Human-centred designChallenge: How might we (re)design the process of cooking to improve health?

Azu

Ko

/ a

zuko

.org

ACTIVITY BOOK

AzuKo is an architecture charity.We empower communities through design.

azuko.org

736 million people remain in extreme poverty, today. Design can provide solutions to the challenges they face.

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Welcome to the world of human-centred designIt’s a design approach that starts with a deep understanding of the people you’re designing for, and ends with a solution that meets their needs.

At AzuKo we use it to help people out of poverty; designing spaces, services and systems which improve lives.

We hope you’ll be inspired to take some of the techniques into your own work, now and in the future.

What you’ll need:

• 2 people• 50 mins - 1 hour• Paper, pens / pencils, scissors, tape...

+ your creative brains

Please see ‘definitions’ page at the back for meanings of key words.

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The challenge:

How might we (re)design the process of cooking to improve health?

Traditionally in Bangladesh, women cook and prepare meals for their families. For many women living in poverty, their kitchens are often dark, cramped, unhygienic and poorly ventilated. Working long hours in these spaces can cause lung cancer and diarrhoeal disease.

What simple, low-cost solutions could improve their health?

6 How might we (re)design the process of cooking to improve health?

Task 1

Let’s talk (10 mins)

To understand the person you’re designing for, you need to observe, listen carefully and empathise. It starts with a conversation.

Decide who will host the interview, and who will role play ‘Nandira’. There are separate guidance notes for each of you. Spend 10 minutes interviewing Nandira. Find out more about how she prepares and cooks breakfast for her family. Write your notes below:

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Task 2

Understand the challenges (5 mins)

Re-read your notes, and answer the following questions. You can discuss these together.

• What are the 3 biggest challenges Nandira faces when preparing and cooking breakfast for her family?

• What is unusual or unique about Nandira’s routine?

• What parts of the process take the most time?

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Task 3

Generate ideas (15 mins)

As a pair, brainstorm new ideas. Try to imagine 5 ways to improve the way Nandira prepares and cooks breakfast. What would make the process easier, quicker, safer, more comfortable or enjoyable? Think big, think radical. They could be products, services, spaces or experiences. Sketch your ideas below. We’re not looking for perfect drawings, scribble fast and furiously!

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Task 4

Test 1 idea (10 mins)

Together, choose your strongest idea. The idea that gets you most excited. You’re going to make a prototype, something visual which you can test. It can be a model, diagram or detailed drawing. You could act it out, or film it on a phone. Use what you have around you - paper, pens, cardboard, string.

We learn so much through ‘making’... let your inner creator out.

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Task 5

Get feedback (5 mins)

Return to your roles as interviewer and Nandira. The interviewer presents the prototype, explains how it works and asks for feedback. What does Nandira think? What excites her about it? What would she change? How does she think it could be improved to fit her lifestyle?

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Congratulations!You completed AzuKo’s human-centred design challenge. In reality this process can take many days, weeks, months or sometimes years. As designers, we listen to Nandira’s feedback and work with her to keep improving and testing the design until it meets her needs. Take a few minutes to reflect:

• What did you learn about human-centred design?

• What was surprising about the process, what was challenging, what did you enjoy most?

• What techniques could you use in other parts of your studies, or in life?

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Share your ideaWe’d love to hear about your big idea. AzuKo will award three prizes for innovative, creative and empathic designs.

To be in with a chance, email info@azuko.org with:

• Your names, ages and school(s)• A short paragraph explaining your solution• A photograph of your prototype• A photograph of your team

The competition is open to students of Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) and partner schools / Sixth Forms.

Winners will be announced in September 2020.

For more information, please contact info@azuko.org

You can also share your ideas and design process on Twitter, tag:@AzuKo_Org@InspFemales

DefinitionsBrainstorm: Suggest a lot of ideas very quickly before considering some of those ideas more carefully.

Empathy: The ability to share someone else’s feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person’s situation.

Human-centred design:A design approach that starts with a deep understanding of the people you’re designing for, and ends with a solution that meets their needs.

Prototype: An early sample / model of an idea that can be tested, and helps form the final solution.

Role play: Pretending to be someone else, especially as part of learning a new skill.

Photography: AzuKo & Unsplash

AzuKo is an architecture charity.We empower communities through design.

azuko.org