The Define Stage:
Empathetic design thinking concepts may have started in the 90’s to better understand the consumer and aid in the development of successful products Kouprie & Visser (2009). Fortunately, the research and scope grew into course design and the using empathy to humanize the switch from classroom or person to person interaction too computer to person interactions.
Campbell, S. (2017) wrote a blog that resonated with me in many ways about how important and valuable communication is in so many ways, online course design being just one of those communication methods. It further resonated, not only as a communication issue but how communication methods and reactions can be affected by experience levels, culture, body language, even smells can trigger different responses. Just as reframing helps to change your point of view, falling down this rabbit hole with its many branching tunnels can lead you in many different directions. Moving through the empathy stage by compiling, collecting information, then reframing the question in different ways allowing for further views and methods to meet the requirements. Addressing the Point of View (POV) of this project through a “How Might We (HMW)” method of developing survey questions to help you come to the conclusions that guides and defines the necessity of the end user. Balancing and juggling the viewpoints and deemed requirements of stakeholders and end users in an effort to change and allow minds to grow, learn and understand.
Kouprie & Visser (2009) Said it best, “To develop empathy is an individual act, but by discussing it in a team, the discussion serves as a trigger for others to make more connections, which will lead to increased understanding”. The quote itself reframes the Point of View (POV) of the word Empathy, linking the definition of empathy to a way of using empathy to promote expanded or reframed thought. In my opinion, also falls under the umbrella of communication and how people communicate, are understood and most importantly have a voice that can be heard.
References
IDEO. (2015). Design Kit – Methods. Retrieved from http://www.designkit.org/methods
Kouprie, M., & Visser, F. S. (2009). A framework for empathy in design: Stepping into and out of the user’s life. Journal of Engineering Design, 20(5), 437-448. DOI: 10.1080/09544820902875033
Campbell, S. (2017). Know About Employee Communication, When I Work, Blog; Articles Small business blog, http://www.wheniwork.com
Stanford University Institute of Design. (2016). Bootcamp Bootleg. Retrieved from http://dschool-old.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/METHODCARDS-v3-slim.pdf