Last fall SonicRim sponsored a design research course for graduate students at California College of the Arts (CCA), with an aim to promote design research in the academic environment and cultivate competent professionals for the industry. On December 5, the students presented their final projects about the human-nature connection.
SonicRim founder and CEO Uday Dandavate introduced the presentations by discussing how his personal experiences turned him into an avid design researcher. Several industry practitioners attended the presentations and supported the students: to name a few, Steve Diller and Jan Yeager (Cheskin), Fred Bove (BellaVia Rresearch), Ted Frank (Backstories Studio), Adrien Lanusse (Netflix), Michael Barry (Point Forward) and Katy Mogal (Logitech).
Student teams presented the results of their projects, a wide range of fictional RFP’s (requests for proposals) based on this year’s topic– exploring the domain of human and nature interactions. Project objectives ranged from understanding how natural signs with directional meanings could be used to improve people’s navigation experience (Garmin), to exploring the needs and aspirations of people with mobility restrictions in ocean adventures (Snorkel Bob), to examining how existing products and services fulfill an urban gardener’s desire for a sustainable beauty (Home Depot).
I advised eight teams on eight different projects, suggesting specific methodologies that were suitable for their target audiences and research contexts. Throughout the course, I worked with another instructor to introduce students to the theory and practice of design research. They learned to plan, conduct, analyze, and synthesize research that provides a clear perspective on the needs of a specific population, and identifies design opportunities at a conceptual level.
The following images show each project team’s poster which includes key research objectives, profiles of the target market, research approaches, and key findings/insights supported by participants’ quotes.
