yours, mine & ours

i

yours mine & oursbuilding shared vision

- Stephan Goetschius -

iii

© 2011, Stephan Goetschius

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Design can play a role in shaping the future of our society. The larger processes of societal change are often seen as inevitable, almost as natural processes that beset humanity. And it is true that these processes are difficult to start, stop or steer. They are also much too complicated to design directly; they involve complex technical, social, and cultural issues over long periods of time. It is hard to imagine what a country will look like in twenty years.

The solution-focused strategies of designers are incredibly valuable for raising the right issues and making scenarios of things to come. Design is not just about the creation of things, it is a way of thinking that can help to shape the future. -Kees Dorst

The thinking we use to redesign society stems from three essential concepts: doing the right thing, focusing on what we want, and thinking systemically. -Russell Ackoff

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Table of Contents

vii

xii

xvi

xviii

1

3

17

20

21

23

25

43

45

47

61

67

70

72

75

81

86

87

88

89

93

Illustrations

Glossary

Purpose, Principles, Ideals

Abstract

Introduction

Proposal 1: Managing the Physical

Structure, Function, Process, Environment

Design Characteristics

Observation

Survey

Inspiration

Benchmarks

Prototype

Feedback

Proposal 2: Navigating the Psychological

Structure, Function, Process, Environment

Inspiration

Prototype & Feedback

Conclusion

Primary Research Overview

Designer’s Statement

Designer’s Role

Endnotes

Bibliography

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Illustrations

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Image on page 12 1. http://lorilowe.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/money.jpg

Images on page 49: (from left to right, top to bottom) 1. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sue_10512/5209511701/ 2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sue_10512/5209511701/ 3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedrosimoes7/4999528292/ 4. http://www.flickr.com/photos/botheredbybees/1427859910/ 5. http://www.flickr.com/photos/daddio/5609583058/sizes/l/in/photostream/ 6. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathanclark/19496004/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Images on page 87 courtesy of Emily Wilson

All other images and illustrations produced by author.

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Glossary

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Shared Vision: The capacity to hold a shared picture of our current condition and of a future the group seeks to create.1

Committed Relationship: A relationship marked by exclusivity and the embracing of life-altering responsibilities.

Financial Wellness: Financial wellness is an intricate balance of the mental, spiritual and physical aspects of money. This unique combination is an ideal to strive towards in our dealings with money. Financial wellness is having an understanding of your financial situation and taking care of it in such a way that you are prepared for financial changes. Maintaining that balance consists of being comfortable with where your money comes from and where it is going; well being prevails when expenditures and income are in proportion.2

Financial Literacy: The ability to use one’s monetary resources efficiently & effectively.

Effectiveness: Both efficiency and effectiveness are determined relative to one or more ends (goals, objectives, or ideals). The value of these objectives is not relevant to the determination of efficiency, but is essential for the determination of effectiveness. The effectiveness of behavior is a function of both its efficiency for one or more outcomes and the values of those outcomes. (The difference between efficiency and effectiveness is reflected in the difference between growth and

development. Growth does not necessarily imply an increase in value; development does.)3

Development: “To develop is to increase one’s ability and desire to satisfy one’s own needs and legitimate desires and those of others. A legitimate desire is one that, when satisfied, does not impede the development of anyone else.”4

A note on the difference between “cause-effect” and “producer-product” relationships: A cause is both necessary and sufficient for its resultant effect. This is an extremely simplistic model and, in many cases, difficult to prove. A more effective model may be the producer - product structure. A producer is necessary but insufficient for its product.5 An example could be that of the relationship between an oak tree and its seed. It is common to say that the seed is the cause of the oak tree. However, this is not an accurate model since the tree is dependent on any number of environmental factors in addition to the seed for its being. The producer-product model accomodates a systemic understanding of the interdependent variables inherent in most phenomenon and is therefore a closer approximation of reality.

Messes: “Problems are to reality what atoms are to tables. We experience tables, not atoms. Problems are abstracted from experience by analysis. We do not experience individual problems but complex systems of those that are strongly interacting.” 6 I refer to these systems of problems as messes.

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Purpose Principles Ideals

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In an attempt to organize and summarize some of the fundamental beliefs that inform my practice as a designer, I have compiled this list of purposes, principles and ideals. These are generalized principles informed by experiential observation of what is. Their relationship to this thesis lies in their guidance as a conceptual and philisophical framework.

I see it not as a “once and for all” collection, but rather, there exists within it the potential for evolution. For in this hugely complex, dynamic interdependent system of which we are a part the ability to flexibly respond is valued higher than the ability to predict. A static belief system is an inflexible artifact and will eventually prove ineffective in its ability to manage development. Therefore, one must observe with a keen eye to find those subtle truths holding so lightly to both the depth and breadth of the world’s variety & work diligently to abide by them.

• Reduce Ineffectual Suffering

• Optimize Meaningful Joy

• Practice Compassion

• Balance Efficiency & Effectiveness

• “What If…?” Ask Critical Questions

• “It Depends…”

• Perspective Is 9/10ths Of The Law

• The Bigger The Front, The Bigger The Back

• Play, Risk, Experiment

• Embedded Knowledge

• Humility

• Work To Achieve What You Want, Not To

Get Rid Of What You Don’t Want

• Four Ideals: Truth, Plenty, Goodness, Beauty

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It seems there are some things in life that are truly: no pain, no gain. Development is sometimes accompanied with discomfort and outright suffering, and while suffering may serve a purpose (in some cases to provide critical feedback-i.e. a painful tooth) the only function of such pain is to inspire a call to action, these are ineffective sorts of suffering and lead to no development - they should be reduced. It is not simply a matter of removing the symptom-but of [solving / dissolving] the dynamic.

Reduce Ineffectual Suffering

xv

Optimize Meaningful JoyJelaluddin Rumi -the 13th century sufi mystic said: The soul is here for its own joy.7

More recently and down to earth, psychologist Martin Seligman has identified three kinds of happiness, the pleasant life, the good life and the meaningful life, to grossly simplify his definitions:

•The pleasant life: a life that successfully pursues the positive emotions about the present, past, and future.

•The good life: using your signature strengths to obtain abundant gratification (activities we like doing) in the main realms of your life.

•The meaningful life: using your signature strengths and virtues in the service of something much larger than your self.8

It is within our power, and even our responsibility, to contribute to the development of meaningful living.

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Empathy is often cited as one of the designer’s greatest skills; conceived of as sharing & understanding the feelings of others - while this is a positive development - in and of itself it is a passive activity.

Compassion implies not only sharing & understanding - but showing concern - actively engaging to alleviate suffering and fostering development.

Practice Compassion

xvii

Balance Efficiency & EffectivenessPeter Drucker noted - There is a big difference between doing things right and doing the right thing. This is a difference between efficiency & effectiveness.9

Russell Ackoff followed on Drucker’s wisdom with a bit of his own:“The righter you do the wrong thing, the wronger you become. If you make a mistake doing the wrong thing and correct it- you become wronger. If you make a mistake doing the right thing and correct it - you become righter. Therefore, it is better to do the right thing wrong than the wrong thing right.”10

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“What if…” Ask Critical QuestionsBy observing the structure, function, process, and containing environment - and holding none of our observations sacred - we stand a chance of seeing [past or through] the implicit assumptions & beliefs that inform our decisions & actions. Consider Copernicus and the geocentric conception of the cosmos…what if?

xix

It Depends…The key word in understanding systems is “relationships.” How high should it be? How sharp is sharp enough? How much time should I spend on this? Does this look right? We have an interesting, albeit often incomplete, understanding of the way in which the world works.

We tend to think is simplistic, linear, cause & effect terms, looking for things and events that can explain “the way things are.” Ecologists have a saying: You cannot do just one thing. Fortunately or unfortunately, reality often fails to follow our model of it. When searching for the truth of a matter, it always depends.

xx

Perspective is 9/10ths of the LawIf certain contemporary biological understanding is correct, in a strict physical sense, we literally create ourselves. (Hard pill to swallow?) Even still, it is pretty broadly accepted that we do design ourselves in ways, whether intentionally or unintentionally, our actions define us & change us. The perspective we assume can be the highest order point of leverage in our efforts of design. Perspective is the flux that allows meaning to change.

xxi

The Bigger the Front,The Bigger the BackBack in the 40’s DDT was used as an insecticide with great effect - unfortunately it has considerable and undesirable side effects. This is but one example of a principle: the higher the high, the lower the low - the farther out you go, the farther in you’ll be drawn.

Represented as the first law of thermodynamics: energy can neither be created nor destroyed. Or you may have heard the saying: Everything must be paid for eventually, even that which is given away for free.

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Play, Risk, ExperimentI lump these together because I see them as part and parcel - - my favorite definition of play: any activity that you engage in – in which you do not know the outcome.

But I guess with that comes some risk - when you go screwing around with the universe, you could potentially do some serious damage, so experiment intelligently.

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Embedded KnowledgeAs beings, we can only truly understand something through experiencing the thing/event. We may be able to intellectualize many things we’ve never experienced. To design effectively, though, requires not just intellectual knowledge, but an embedded experience that embodies the knowledge.

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HumilityLeadership is often times understood to mean the character at the front of the pack, top down command-and-control social order by singular directive: shape up or ship out. But there is another conception of leadership (one that is less understood, or at least it seems, less flouted) that is plural, cooperative, and employs listening as a primary skill. These two conceptions of leadership are not mutually exclusive, they are complimentary, but in our culture at large the humble leader gets little press - maybe they are less understood.

We have no idea what we are, or what we’re supposed to be doing here. Better go forward with at least a little humility.

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Work to Achieve What You Want, Not to Get Rid of What You Don’t WantIf you set out as a reactionary to get rid of what you don’t want, there is very little guarantee that once you succeed you will be left with what you do want. So, better to establish the shared values common to all and invest your energies there. As Irene Khan noted, The world does not need a war on ‘terrorism’, it needs a culture of peace based on human rights and justice for all.11

xxvi

As design is largely a practice of choosing our future, these four ideals are guides by which we may evaluate our decisions. As ideals, these can never be fully satisfied, but they can inspire us to a state better than the one in which we find ourselves.

Four Ideals:Truth, Beauty, Plenty, Goodness

1

Abstract

2

This thesis explores producers of financial wellbeing for young adults (20-30 years old) engaged in committed relationships. Using a variety of research methodologies and iterative prototyping, two parallel proposals are put forward: one to address the physical management of a couple’s resources and another to address the psychological concerns inherent in their communication. Physical management is enabled through a banking service that provides shared, transparent, objective money tracking in an intuitive and integrated manner. Psychological concerns are illuminated through visual support provided during financial counseling workshops.

3

Introduction

4

This thesis is an exploration of how design may contribute to effective socio-cultural development through the theme of building shared vision. Shared vision is one of the principles of all social activity. With a strong sense of shared vision, we pool our energy and resources for collective benefit. The value of a shared vision lies in its ability to gather and integrate a multiplicity of perspectives. This collective vision enables an expansive vision for the individual affording a variety of actors to cooperate in a given enterprise. The whole of their coordinated efforts are greater than the sum of their individual acts. Ideally, this leads to the greatest good for the greatest number - optimizing the satisfaction of legitimate needs and wants across the social system.

Introduction

5

To explore this theme I have chosen to focus on what I believe to be our most intimate shared vision, that between partners in a committed relationship. In addressing the unique challenges that this group faces I chose a design brief that attempts to mitigate and dissolve one of the primary producers of conflict in our relationships: my goal was to develop products and services that promote financial wellness through communication and shared management.

Not only is the committed relationship our most intimate relationship, in many ways it is also our most important relationship; it is the primary unit of humankind. It is the foundation, the nucleus for the short-term structure of our families and, consequently, the long-term structure of our neighborhoods, communities, and the ever widening circles of our social systems. Many have argued that the deterioration of our families is a major producer of the larger deterioration in our social fabric. This can of course be debated, but there is strong evidence that points to the negative consequences on our children being raised in single parent households and households affected by divorce.12 Breakdowns in our committed relationships have personal as well as social consequences. While the broader implications for these breakdowns is an intriguing topic for discussion I have limited myself here to exploring and examining some of the contributing factors to conflict within the relationship itself.

Introduction

6

Design Brief

Develop products and

services for young

couples that promote

financial wellness

through communication

and shared management.

Introduction

7

Committed Relationships

In what systems do they exist? What function do they serve?

Nature / The Great Mystery

From the individual’s perspective

Physical Desire

Social Status

Mitigation of Loneliness

Propagation of life

Survival of species

Posterity

Evolution

Security

Family

Neighborhood

Community

Region

Nation

Society

Introduction

Mapping the

meaning of

relationships

8Introduction

My choice of demographic (young adults ages 20-30 in the first five years of a committed relationship) is strategic from two primary perspectives. First, I believe that as a designer it is important to have some embedded knowledge of your area of concern. How you acquire that knowledge can vary, of course. For instance, you may find ways to pretend or mimic the situation — like putting on a blindfold to experience blindness or wearing an “empathy belly” to understand pregnancy. In my case, as a 35 year old who has been in a committed relationship for 8 years, I have my own anecdotal experience to draw on and while I must be careful not to project this perspective onto others I believe it does provide unique and relevant insight. Secondly, in evaluating secondary research, it occurred to me that this demographic constituted an extreme user group by virtue of a combination of factors. Taken individually, each young adult is relatively fresh in the world, trying on social roles and identities, navigating personal choices, and managing responsibilities. Combine two of these people in a co-management situation and both the decision making and the consequences are amplified. No longer is it just one person thinking for themselves, answering only to themselves, paying the price for themselves. Now there is the necessity for joint management, joint learning, joint ownership, joint decision making and a sharing of the consequences. This changes the lifestyle and management dynamics radically. As we will see, developing these abilities to co-manage is not easy and for many couples it is ultimately the driving wedge in their separation.

Relationships - The First Five Years

9 Introduction

10Introduction

The challenges couples face are broad and diverse. An extensive study conducted by Creighton University - Center for Marriage and Family revealed a bounty of insight regarding cultural trends and attitudes on America’s contemporary relationships. Factors of social relevance included: increased occurrence and social approval of cohabitation, delayed marriage, delayed parenthood, dual-career partnerships, gender role expectations, high rate of divorce, unwed parenthood, and a growing individualism. Of particular import to my inquiry were the rates of breakup/divorce and the reasons people gave for these relationship breakdowns. As cited in this study, from the National Center for Health Statistics, “most divorces occur for couples married less than five years and that the proportion of divorces is highest for couples married three years.”13 According to US Census Bureau statistics going back more than 100 years, the median age at first marriage has held fairly steady, fluctuating between 23-27 for men and 20-25 for women.14 For these young couples, the top three stressors in their relationship were time, sex and money, not necessarily in that order though. Of all the factors cited, time spent together (which was comprised of balancing job and family, balancing parent and couple time, and time spent with spouse) had the “highest level of problematic intensity.”15 Close on the heels of the time factor, though, is money.

Financial issues appeared as top problematic issues for every group. When issues were clustered, the financial cluster, which included financial situation, debt brought into marriage, financial decision making, and the employment of both husband and wife, had the second highest problematic intensity level of all clusters.16

One could interpret this information in a slightly different manner though. Even though we may say that time together is a primary producer of conflict and stress we are unable to spend more time together in large measure because we are busy working to make money. So, from a systemic perspective the issues of time and and money are not easily separated. It could be argued that the making and managing of money is the primary source of friction and conflict. So this begs the question: what is money?

Mapping the

relationship

space

11 Introduction

At its fundamental root, money is a medium of exchange. Just as language is a medium for the exchange of ideas, concepts, feelings and so forth, money is a medium for the exchange of goods and services. Some economists contend that without money, the production and exchange of anything but the most rudimentary goods and services is impossible, not just difficult, but impossible. Money is the socially agreed upon “trade-able.” It can substitute for just about anything, or so we would like to believe (and attempt to practice.) That being said, money has practically no value in and of itself. It is not an end but a means. And as Karl Polanyi pointed out in The Great Transformation, the ends to which it is a means is not always obvious:

The outstanding discovery of recent historical and anthropological research is that man’s economy, as a rule, is submerged in his social relationships. He does not act so as to safeguard his individual interest in the possession of material goods; he acts so as to safeguard his social standing, his social claims, his social assets. He values material goods only in so far as they serve this end. Neither the process of production nor that of distribution is linked to specific economic interests attached to the possession of goods; but every single step in that process is geared to a number of social interests which eventually ensure

that the required step be taken. These interests will be very different in a small hunting or fishing community from those in a vast despotic society, but in either case the economic system will be run on noneconomic motives.17 (italics mine)

This insight serves to illustrate the interests and motives one has to consider when evaluating people’s behavior surrounding the use and management of money. As I learned from several interviews, many people view money as a tool. It is not important in and of itself and is therefore treated as such. A couple of statements from my surveys confirms this: “I view money as a tool or as a resource for achieving the things I want or need in life.” “Money is a means to living the life I want to live.” It is only important in its relationship to the ends it serves. In a committed relationship, these ends are multiple and varied. One’s attention is not necessarily on the tool, but on the ends which it serves. Only when there is a problem with the tool do we stop our other activity and turn our attention to making the tool work again. But, like any tool, if we abuse it or misuse it, it will eventually give out or cease to function properly. As has been revealed in our recent financial debacle, the choices and behaviors that we are collectively engaged in do not seem to be very effective. Might we want to re-evaluate the effectiveness of our activity?

12

“I view money as a tool, or as a resource, for achieving the things I want or need in life.”

“Money is a means to living the life I want to live.”

What is money?

-quotes from interviews

13 Introduction

Even within the family we have proven our ineffective financial behavior. In 1995, under the direction of William E. Odom and H. Randy Lively, The Jump$tart Coalition was founded to evaluate the state of financial literacy among Americans and to develop a strategic plan for improving the quality and extent of personal finance education within the nation’s schools. In 2008 they published the results of a survey conducted to assess the financial literacy among young American high school and college students. The results were not exactly encouraging. According to the exam they administered to gauge financial literacy:

The financial literacy of high school students has fallen to its lowest level ever, with a score of just 48.3 percent. The good news is that American college graduates are close to being financially literate and probably will be so with more life experience. The bad news is that just 25 percent of our young adults are graduating from college and this number appears to have stabilized. This means that 75 percent of young American adults are likely to lack the skills needed to make beneficial financial decisions.18 (italics mine)

From 1997 (when Jump$tart began surveying students) to 2008, the greatest declines in financial literacy were found in questions relating to money management and saving. “…knowledge of money management (budgets, insurance, etc.) and saving continued their decline to the lowest levels recorded.”19 This obviously does not bode well. If it is clear that our financial literacy is in the gutter and the primary producer of friction and conflict in our relationships is our financial situation, what does that mean for the health of our relationships? It does not look promising.

14

Children, 13-21 years old, who say their parents taught them how to manage money:

74%26%

NoYes

Introduction

74%26%

NoYes

Parents who feel well prepared to teach their children about personal finance: 20

21

15 Introduction

It was not that long ago that our partnerships were valued most significantly for their emotional intimacy, sexual satisfaction and the individual happiness they brought. But the recent global financial meltdown has shed new light on values that many once took for granted.

The recession reminds us that marriage is more than an emotional relationship: marriage is also an economic partnership and social safety net. There is nothing like the loss of a job, an imminent foreclosure, or a shrinking 401(k) to gain new appreciation for a wife’s job, a husband’s commitment to pay down debt, or the in-laws’ willingness to help out with childcare…22

In addition to these shifting values of our relationships, Americans under 55 years of age, or so, also have shifting assumptions of gender roles and equality. The ideal of equality does not appear to be attained to its fullest, but it is widely believed to be an accepted ideal. This ideal of equality results in beliefs pertaining to our relationships, namely, that each partner should be equally responsible to the other in terms of home maintenance, providing income, and resource management among other things. Now, the “balance of equality” will be different in many cases. It will not always be true that each partner

makes the same amount as the other, but studies show that couples do consider the balance of responsibility and contribution to the partnership when evaluating the state of their union.23 So, given the level of our financial literacy and understanding the major contributing factors to the dissolution of many relationships I wanted to see if there was something(s) that might help contribute to the effective management of their resources and the successful development of a shared vision. During my early interviews with couples two main touchpoints for promoting financial wellness arose. First, there is the management of the physical resources themselves - i.e. “money flow.” Effective management of this would appear to include: transparent communication and shared access to information that would enable informed, cooperative decision making and mutual management of resources. Second, there is navigating the communication surrounding money management, which is largely intangible. These intangibles are our notions of power, control, choice, social status, desires, beliefs, values, etc: what I call the psychological currency, or the higher order human factors. Physical money is just a means by which these psychological factors find agency. Therefore, in my proposals I attempt to address the mess through two divergent paths: managing the physical and navigating the psychological.

16Introduction

Security

Choice

Power

Status

Dreams

Self-worth

Priorities

Values

Needs

Mobile

PC / Online

ATM

Checkout

Paper Ledger

Physical Psychological

Money Management Touchpoints

17 Proposal 1: Managing the Physical

Proposal 1Managing the Physical

18Proposal 1: Managing the Physical

“Often more money is not the problem, lack of intelligent spending habits is…”

-from survey


To help mitigate ignorance and the power imbalance inherent in current money management schemes this proposal is a joint bank account with a variety of unique features geared towards today’s young couples. It is designed to provide shared, transparent, objective money tracking in an intuitive and integrated manner. Although our currency has largely gone from tangible to virtual, I refer to this service as “managing the physical.” In interviews with people, many referred to money as a “tool.” It is conceptualized as a thing that we use to get what we want. Also, when we are tracking our money, or spending it, we are usually physically engaged either at the checkout counter with our debit card, on our computers reading the ledger, or depositing a check in an ATM. Placing the information flow in our environment and gaining access to our money is a physical engagement.

Joint Checking Account with Electronic Envelopes


Structure

This concept is a joint checking account for couples comprised of sub-accounts, or electronic envelopes that enables integrated, real-time tracking of financial resources in a shared manner.

Function

The purpose of this product is to contribute to financial wellness by establishing a baseline structure for shared management. By providing a budget in the form of electronic envelopes and placing this information at a variety of transactional touchpoints, some potential for future conflict and misunderstanding around finances is dissolved.

Process

Couples would engage with this product at their bank. To help provide a low barrier to entry, default budget profiles would be offered. Couples coming in to register would provide some basic information on their income and major expenses, then based on this information, would be provided a series of profiles from which to choose. This would help keep the number of necessary decisions to a minimum and accommodate for low levels of financial literacy.

Containing Environment

The essence of this product is in information placement and access; getting the right information to the right place at the right time. Embedding it in the industrial management of money (banks, debit card transactions, electronic displays) allows the user to take advantage of these platforms.


Principle Design Characteristics

Integrated & Transparent

Service should be integrated into current patterns of behavior. One thing I learned through interviews with couples was the unique dynamic that arises from our current money management structures. The couples I spoke with that had some kind of a budget set up already were, without fail, managed by one partner only. This included homemade Excel spreadsheets, homemade ledgers or proprietary software such as Quicken, iBank, Mint.com, etc. This meant that the other person was largely ignorant of the system and therefore at the mercy of their partner’s decisions and management style. “Our main issues have to do with money and housework. I handle our finances because I am better organized and better with money. I enjoy doing it but he doesn’t understand that he still needs to know what is going on…” -Barbara. This tool, by virtue of being integrated with your checking account and accessible at most transactional touchpoints, allows an information flow in real-time that is visible to both partners.

Intuitive & Adaptable

Due to the low level of financial literacy among young Americans I believe this tool should have a low barrier to entry and adjust over time to the user’s familiarity and needs. By providing default profiles from which to select, the couple can quickly set up their budget with very limited, up-front “educational investment.” As they use these defaults they are then able to adjust their settings based on personal, real-world experience. This allows them to get started quickly and to personalize over time.

Shared

As a basic tenet of building shared vision and abiding by today’s cultural norms, this tool should be structured for shared management. By engaging both partners in the management and understanding of their collective position this tool encourages mutual understanding and responsibility.

Objective

A third party structure helps diffuse power imbalances that can arise from “partner instigated structures.” Some of the couples I spoke with registered frustration with what they interpreted as one partner’s pressure to conform to their system. By placing the tool in an institution I believe it neutralizes some of this imbalance and creates a sense that this is the way other people do it; this is the status quo.


Ung

uide

dN

o S

ervi

ce P

rovi

der

Gui

ded

Live

Ser

vice

Pro

vide

r

Shared Management

Individual Management

Financial Counseling

Church based,Large and small

scale private industry

Money Management Software

QuickenMint.com

iBankHome Ledger

Integrated into current behaviorLow educational barrier

Low cost / low maintenance

Family&

FriendsAutomatic Banking Services

Bill PayElectronic Deposit

Product Matrix

Looking at the landscape of support for financial literacy and management there’s guided support from family and friends, which is where people usually turn first. There are also a variety of financial counseling services that serve both

individuals and couples. Then there are a variety of proprietary services and products that have little to no personal support and are largely structured for individual management. This banking service exists in the upper left quadrant.


Initial Research - Observation“I feel like I’m spending so much money right now.”

“My husband handles the finances & he tells me when to stop. It doesn’t always work out though…”

24Proposal 1: Managing the Physical - Observation

I spent several hours at the local mall observing and eavesdropping on couples as they shopped together. Some folks were openly expressing their spending habits, noting their ignorance and anxiety. Others were explaining their money management strategies. There was an undercurrent of nervous energy and uncertainty.

25 Proposal 1: Managing the Physical - Survey

Continued Research - Survey

In an attempt to get a handle on couples’ attitudes regarding their finances and money management practices I conducted a survey that mixed qualitative and quantitative questions. The survey drew 104 responses. It contained some common demographic queries and some general questions about the status and conditions of their relationships. Based on the balance of this data I felt I had a fair number of respondents within my age group and relationship status to verify any further conclusions I might make from the more qualitative questions. The first set of these questions were intended to get a picture of how people rated themselves, their partner, and their collective partnership on abilities of financial literacy and management. “How would you rate your individual ability to manage money?” “How would you rate your partner’s ability to manage money?” “How would you rate your combined money management skills?” While keeping in mind that these are self-evaluated responses, generally speaking the majority of people rated themselves slightly above average. This is interesting in light of the national research conducted by Jump$tart. Respondents’ levels of financial education (with only 23% receiving any kind of training) were in line with other secondary research, thus confirming the lack of any formal financial training for the vast majority.

I also wanted to understand how people were currently managing their money. What kinds of tools did they use, were they pooling their resources, did they have any joint accounts, did they have a shared budget? Many of these responses were also in line with other national surveys. For instance, 80% of respondents indicated that they had some kind of joint account: credit card, checking account, savings account, or other. Of the remaining 20%

without any kind of joint account, 64% said that a joint account is something they would be willing to try. A parallel national survey revealed that the majority of couples (over 60%) put all their money into joint accounts, a smaller percentage (about 15%) keep their money separate, while the remaining couples (about 20%) use both types of accounts.24 This served to confirm my intention of creating joint management tools. A disturbing, but not altogether surprising finding, was that only 24% had any kind of shared budget. Knowing what we know from Jump$tart’s research, this again serves to confirm the lack of sound financial practices at a basic level. If you’re not tracking and allocating your money, how can you possibly manage it effectively? When asked what kinds of tools people were using to manage their money, an overwhelming number (almost 70%) cited online banking, with checkbook ledger pulling up in second place with a mere 23%.

As a final question, I asked people: “If you could have any financial management tool you wanted, what would it allow you to do? What might some its qualities be?” And while there were clearly some financially literate respondents, which requested help with things like investing and stock market decisions, the vast majority of requests dealt with basic money management skills. Some asked for help “automatically tracking spending and categorizing it,” or, “monitoring spending directly.” Help with “budgeting” or “budgeting for the future” was a common concern. Also along these lines, people wanted “a simplified understanding of categories where we spend money (food / groceries, transportation, etc.)” and “mobile budgeting with real time management.”

26Proposal 1: Managing the Physical - Survey

27

37%

63%Male

Female

Sex of respondent:

Proposal 1: Managing the Physical - Survey

28

19 or younger

20-30 years old31-40 years old

41 +

4%

49%34%

13%

How old are you?


29

4%

96%No

Yes

Are you in a committed relationship?


30

Less than a year1-2 years2-3 years3-4 years4-5 years5 +

How long have you been in this relationship?


31

What is the status of your relationship?

Unmarried - Living SeparatelyUnmarried - Living Together

Married - Living Separately

Married Living Together

42%22%

2%

34%


32

What is the status of your relationship?

Unmarried - Living SeparatelyUnmarried - Living Together

Married - Living Separately

Married Living Together

42%22%

2%

34%

How would you rate your individual ability to manage money?

I am a financial wizard.

I balance my checkbook on the edge of a precipice.


33

I would trust them with my life’s savings.

I wouldn’t trust them with a wooden nickel.

How would you rate your partner’s ability to manage money?


34

We’re a dream team. Save us!

How would you rate your combined money management skills?


35

23%

77%Yes

No

Have either of you ever received any financial training?


From where?

Church, financial counseling

College, Financial Advisor

Free seminar for artists

High School

I am a tax preparer and I have my own business, my partner has a degree in economics

She is studying Economics.

Classes through an employer

College

Financial counselor

He recieved it in college and takes the advice from his lawyer

Parents

Parents and a financial counselor

Parents, financial advisor, each other

School, work

36

Mobile Banking

Online Banking

Quicken (or similar software)

Checkbook Ledger

Homemade Ledger

Cash Envelope System

Constant Guessing

Other

What kind of tools do you use to manage your money?

Other

ATM receipts

Excel spreadsheet

Four letter words

Mental Tracking

Mint, but mostly using brain

Spreadsheets in excel

Mattress

I have a third party manage my money or retirement fund, and I'm on a strict

budget otherwise which involves spending as little money as possible.


37

Do you currently share any accounts with your partner?

Credit Card

Checking Account

Savings Account

OtherNone

Other

Roth 401k

All financial accounts and investments other than IRAs.

Financial investment

We have one shared cd.

Retirement savings, kids college funds, etc.

Investments

Money market

Health savings account for all medical related payments and purchases.


38

24%

76%Yes

No

Do you have a shared budget?


39

64%36%

YesNo

If you do not have a joint account of any kind, is it something that you would be willing to try?


40

30%

70%Yes

No

Have you already discussed this possibility with your partner?


41

At the end of the survey I asked an ideal seeking question: “If you could have any financial management tool you wanted, what would it allow you to do?” While some people’s responses indicated some level of advanced financial literacy, most folks requested help with basic money management.


42

If you could have any financial management tool you wanted, what would it allow you to do? What might some of its qualities be?

Automatically tracking spending and categorizing it.

Simplified understanding of categories where we spend money. (food/groceries, transporation, etc).

Real time feedback of daily spending would be nice...

Rations my money monthly.

Probably some iPhone app that measured all of my expenses. Loans, medical, hygiene, diet, etc. My own financial identification card I could use to keep track of everything without having to worry that I missed a calculation or miscalculated.

Something that I got training for to use first of all and something that was probably a system that integrated my actual bank balances and used them live while I plugged in my actual ever changing in and out flow.

I would want a tool that easily tracked what kinds of thing I’m spending most of my money on - i.e. grocerries, eating out, clothes, car payments, etc.

Mobile budgeting with real time management. Know where we are within the budget at any given moment.

43

After reviewing the results of this survey and comparing them with secondary research I felt validated in my approach and secure in my understanding of some potential leverage points in the relationship-money mess.

In parallel to the survey I was looking at the various transactional touchpoints (i.e. ATM, checkout, online, etc) and evaluating them in light of money management tools that survey respondents and interview subjects said they used (of those that used anything.) This inspired an insight for a potential innovation in money management.

In a couple of interviews with folks a bit older than my target demographic this system of money management was touted as their saving grace; they were really passionate about it. This system is commonly referred to as the “cash envelope system.” The idea is that you cash your paycheck and divide it up into separate envelopes, each labeled according to a spending category. Examples would include: home, transportation, food, clothing, etc. Each person had their own unique divisions based on their experience and need.

“The cash envelope system really works! We have envelopes for everything except our auto-debited bills. We even started accruing for major expenses in cash - like car maintenance, yearly vehicle taxes, vacation… cash makes the budget more tangible. It helps us take responsibility for it. I’ve been amazed at how well the system works.” -Samantha

“We toughed it out on debit cards for quite a while, and though we were able to monitor our spending quite closely,

Proposal 1: Managing the Physical - Inspiration

Inspiration

Evolution of Money

Tangible to Virtual

it was still just too easy to bust the budget and overspend - even by a little. The biggest problem was that you didn’t know what you had left unless you went and did all the math before hand - which no one does. Mostly you’d end up doing it after the fact… just to find that you’d overspent.” -Brian

Seeing this behavior inspired the question: if we have checking accounts for spending and savings accounts for saving and 401(k) accounts for retirement, etc. - why can’t we have separate accounts within our checking accounts to organize our categories of spending? Again, as our cash has gone from tangible to virtual, let’s take advantage of the technologies in place to structure an effective information flow.

45

Evaluating Benchmarks

From the people I spoke with that used some kind of budget / money management tool a number of insights surfaced. First and foremost was the lack of mutual engagement. Almost invariably the act of management fell to one person. Oftentimes the couple indicated that they were happy with this arrangement because one partner felt better prepared to do that kind of work or expressed more interest. But inevitably there were grumblings from the managing partner about the other’s ignorance or lack of participation.

“You know, she gets upset when I try and explain to her that she can’t do that (have something she wants). We need to restrict ourselves together, not me saying that she can only spend this much ‘cause I know what the bills are…” -Todd

This money management structure creates an imbalanced information flow fostering an ineffective power / control dynamic and produces communicative friction.

Secondly, the proprietary software packages, such as Quicken, iBank, Mint.com and the like, present two other challenges to effective management: level

Proposal 1: Managing the Physical - Benchmarks

46

Transparent

Shared

IntegratedManagement

Low Financial Literacy

Too Complex

of necessary financial literacy required to use them and their placement (or lack thereof) in the flow of transactional touchpoints. People who used these tools tended to have a (self-described) higher level of comfort managing money and a personal confidence in their financial decisions. Those without a high degree of competency liked the idea of these tools, but generally thought they were too complicated.

“I don’t know, most of these packages are trying to be too many things to too many people. Some things they do really well… but trying to learn them and adapt them isn’t easy.” -Lisa

As for their integration into our everyday behavior, they were just not designed for that. Most of these tools allow for a collective vision of all your accounts. But, not only is it a delayed vision, it is separated from our spending activity. To access these tools one generally has to dedicate a chunk of time to update and organize your information.

“I like that I can see all of my accounts in one place, but Mint still doesn’t let you proactively plan your spending as does a traditional envelopes budgeting method… with Mint, you’re looking at your spending after the fact versus forward thinking and planning.” -Jason

Proposal 1: Managing the Physical - Benchmarks

47

Prototype

Proposal 1: Managing the Physical - Prototype

Joint Checking Account with Electronic Envelopes

48

At this point I wanted to draw up a prototype to illustrate the joint bank account and get feedback from couples and from industry. It explained the unique features designed to dissolve potential for intra-relational conflict due to low financial literacy, inadequate tracking and management of resources. The first prototype was in paper form and was taken to a couple interview sessions.


Feedback from these conversations was encouraging and inspired a second stage of prototyping that included changing the format and resolution. The second iteration used the mobile device platform to illustrate how the service would work through a specific interface. It was packaged in a movie format and posted to the internet. A link to a survey invited viewers to provide feedback.

49

JointBank

AccountFor

Couples

Proposal 1: Managing the Physical - Prototype Prototype Screenshot

50Proposal 1: Managing the Physical - PrototypePrototype Screenshot

The purpose of this video is to introduce to you a banking service concept intended for young adults engaged in committed relationships who are interested in managing their financial resources in a shared, transparent manner.

JointBank

AccountFor

Couples

51

HowIt

WorksThis joint account would be integrated into your normal banking activity. It would function like your current checking account with a few key differences.


52

Inspired by the “cash envelope” system, this banking service would provide an automatic budget for the users – a set of electronic envelopes.

Housing

Transportation

Food

HowIt

Works

Proposal 1: Managing the Physical - PrototypePrototype Screenshot

53

Upon deposit into your checking account, monies would be automatically divided into sub-accounts, or electronic envelopes, according to your account preferences.


54

Joel: 30

Programmer

Meisha: 27

RN

Two Incomes

One Mortgage Payment

Two Cars

Total Income: $88,000

Budget Profile

9%

28%

15%

18%

5%

5%

14%

3%

3%

Savings

Housing

Food

Transportation

Clothing

Medical

Insurance

Debt

Recreation / Entertainment

Nate: 27

Freelance Writer

Melissa: 29

Museum Admin

Two Incomes

One Rent Payment

One Car


Budget Profile

8%

32%

20%

8%

6%

6%

12%

5%

3%

Savings

Housing

Food

Transportation

Clothing

Medical

Insurance

Debt


Setting up your account preferences would consist of selecting from a variety of default budget profiles enabling you to choose which settings would most likely fit your needs without requiring you to do all of the research and guesswork.

Profi

le #

1


55

Nate: 27

Freelance Writer

Melissa: 29

Museum Admin

Two Incomes

One Rent Payment

One Car


Budget Profile

8%

32%

20%

8%

6%

6%

12%

5%

3%

Savings

Housing

Food

Transportation

Clothing

Medical

Insurance

Debt


Joel: 30

Programmer

Meisha: 27

RN

Two Incomes

One Mortgage Payment

Two Cars


Budget Profile

9%

28%

15%

18%

5%

5%

14%

3%

3%

Savings

Housing

Food

Transportation

Clothing

Medical

Insurance

Debt


Profi

le #

2


56

Paul: 22

Bartender

Laura: 24

Student

One Income

One Rent Payment

One Car


Budget Profile

7%

30%

25%

10%

5%

4%

12%

4%

3%

Savings

Housing

Food

Transportation

Clothing

Medical

Insurance

Debt


Profi

le #

3


57

The interface would accommodate a “group view” or an “individual view.” This would enable a variety of perspectives by which to view where the money is coming from, where the money is going and who is handling it. It would give the couple a sense of personal, as well as, shared management.


58

When withdrawals clear, the purchase can be “deposited” into their relevant envelopes. Preferences can be stored so that recurring purchases from particular vendors are always allocated to that envelope.


59

The budget settings would be adjustable allowing you to fine tune your preferences. This way, the totals of each budget item would reflect the value and need of your money management.


60

Although I have illustrated this service’s interface with a mobile device, access to your envelopes would be available wherever you have access to your money:

Mobile Online ATM Checkout LineHome Ledger /Paper Statements


61

Among the 25 survey respondents, reaction was positive and encouraging. People expressed a desire for such a product and believed that it would be useful.

“It seems pretty straight forward and easy to access. The concept is simple enough that almost anyone can grasp it quickly.”

“Would help set boundaries whereas right now we are not budgeting at all.”

“Transparency will keep each person in the relationship accountable as to spending. I would give some thought into considering whether or not people may be turned off to complete transparency and may opt not to use the service, vs incorporating a private category for spending which allows each person to have their own personal spending space while maintaining transparency in the overall budget.”

“I believe I would be able to make wise financial decisions with greater efficiency. My communication with my wife would be much more efficient, because we could be at different venues, and still get the same financial picture.”

“Money issues are one of the most difficult things to agree on in a relationship. I can see this product being useful for ‘settling’ disputes or perhaps preventing them before they arise.”

The responses I received from private banking institutions, however, had me wondering about my own naivete. One executive I spoke with wondered:

“Why would we design anything for young people? We don’t make any money off of them.”

And another:

“Oooooh… we could set-up overdraft fees on each one of those sub-accounts.”

This was not exactly what I had in mind. I was much more encouraged after speaking with an executive at a credit union who saw its intended potential and shared its purpose:

“It’s in keeping with the traditional purpose and values of the credit union. On the face of it, it’s brilliant. I’m sure our members would benefit from it.”

Feedback


62

Several Individuals, both from the survey as well as in interviews, expressed some hesitation regarding 100% transparency. They indicated that some level of privacy and autonomy would be nice. They wanted a little breathing room and personal control within their shared budget. It is in perfect keeping with the electronic envelopes concept that an account could be set-up with privacy controls accessible only with a designated PIN.

PersonalAccount

63

Building on the capability of individual envelopes, special savings accounts could be set up. One couple I interviewed was discussing their upcoming summer plans. The husband was going to take their son to a skateboarding camp. He mentioned that they had better go sooner rather than later because, if they waited too long, his wife might spend the money they’d been saving up.

64

Nuclear Savings Option

To help keep this couple’s savings goals on track a nuclear savings option could be arranged. This account would require both partners to simultaneously log-in and release the balance to enable access. This would create a mutually engaged fail safe for managing special savings.

65

So in conclusion, I believe that this service addresses the needs young couples have for shared, transparent access and management of their money flow. It’s integrated into their current behavior intuitively in a way that other state of the art products cannot satisfy.

While a product like this may promote financial wellness through managing the physical, I also wanted to explore the implicit psychological factors that money touches on in the lives of young couples.



Proposal 2Navigating the Psychological

68

“The problem with financial management is acknowledging the transfer of power.”

-from survey


69 Proposal 2: Navigating The Psychological

70

Structure

This visual facilitation package is constructed from a melamine-masonite board that is cut into familiar shapes relevant to a life/money conversation. Images include items like: people, automobile, home, baby, clothes, education, insurance, taxes, etc. The frontside (melamine surface) can be used as a dry erase board for making notes while the backside is printed with questions and prompts to seed conversation.

Function

The purpose of this package is to visually facilitate the conversation a couple may have during a financial counseling workshop; it is supplemental to existing methods and content. Its value lies in teasing out stories, perceptions, attitudes, values, assumptions, and concerns that might not otherwise surface from a typical “money talk.” It relies on the power of images to evoke imagination and interaction in ways that numbers on a page fail to do.

Process

During a financial workshop there is time for directed information transfer, such as how to set-up a budget, and there is a time for open ended conversation. This tool would be used during the latter. Couples would sit together at the table and move through the images spontaneously, addressing themselves to the prompts and questions, and taking notes of their responses. The workshop facilitator would be on hand to guide and support.

Containing Environment

This visual facilitation package would be used as a supplemental tool within existing financial counseling workshops.

Status

Choice

Power

Dreams

Self-worth Pleasure

Priorities

Values

Needs


71

In early interviews it was brought to my attention that it is fairly common for churches to encourage, and in some cases require, young couples to participate in financial counseling workshops before the church will wed them. These workshops are usually local affairs, organized and managed at a small scale, meaning there is great variety in form and content from one church to another. But

viz$upport

Proposal 2: Navigating The Psychological

generally speaking, the purpose runs the gamut from: discussing the money behaviors one learned from their parents, how much debt you are currently carrying, setting up a budget, to discussing your future plans together and how you might get there. I was interested in learning more and seeing if there may be potential in addressing these workshop experiences.

Product Matrix

72

Inspiration

Proposal 2: Navigating the Psychological - Inspiration

73

The inspiration for this proposal came from an experience I had at a multi-disciplinary workshop held at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. The purpose of the workshop was two-fold. The primary goal of the 18 participants was to explore opportunities for the adoption of technology into the medical field. Secondly, this multi-disciplinary team, with members from academia, clinical work, research, engineering, design, nursing and administration, wanted to evaluate their methods and behaviors over the course of the workshop. How well did they work together? What worked, what didn’t? I was brought in to “observe and report.” Shortly into my time there I was invited by the team leader to graphically facilitate their conversation. Having never done this kind of work I was a little nervous, but got right into it and was pleasantly surprised by the reaction from the group. Many expressed surprise and delight:

“I will never do this kind of event again without having someone there to visualize it…” - Bryan

“This changed everything - suddenly I could see the conversation. It changed the way I thought and communicated.” - Barbara

This experience inspired me to ask the question, “how could the power of visualizing the conversation be translated for a financial workshop scenario?” Issues that I saw needing to be addressed:

• In the case of the seminar I attended, a living person was there (that’s me) to listen, interpret and translate visually. It was not my intention to propose this kind of service at a financial workshop (although that may be effective) but rather to find a physical tool that might provide some of the same benefits. I imagined this tool would be used in conjunction with existing practices and would rely to some extent on the direction of the workshop leader.

• I noticed in the multi-disciplinary workshop a peculiar response from the participants. Early in the session they were provided with pens, markers, paper of various kinds and they were asked to engage in sketching / note taking during their conversation. To my surprise, very few diagrams or sketches were made. Participation in this activity was very low. People were willing to write words and take notes, but when asked about the lack of sketches, they pointed to a lack of confidence and inability. And yet it was the drawings and sketches that I provided them that they claimed made all the difference. Clearly there is a barrier to self-generation of imagery but not necessarily the generation and capturing of words. This led me to speculate: how might this tool supply the relevant visual framework and still invite tangible participation from the user?

Proposal 2: Navigating The Psychological - Inspiration

74

Inspiration

“I will never do this kind of event again without having someone there to visualize it.” -Bryan

“This changed everything - suddenly I could see the conversation. It changed the way I thought and communicated.” -Barbara

Proposal 2: Navigating the Psychological - Inspiration

75

I made contact with a local minister, Jonathan R., who had recently conducted one such workshop in the area and we met to discuss the process he employs. His method comes from a nationally recognized, self-professed financial guru, Dave Ramsey, whose company created the Financial Peace University (FPU). Jonathan uses materials (videos and paperwork) designed and distributed by FPU to structure his workshops. During our discussion I showed him an early and incomplete prototype to get some feedback. Because the prototype was incomplete and was being presented in the absence of a financial counseling session it was not possible to fully test its application. At this point, however, my main intent was to prod his imagination and see what came back. I presented a few cut-outs, explained in a sentence how I believed they would

be effective, and told a story of the analogous experience from which this tool was inspired.

I learned a couple things from showing a prototype in this state. The speculative nature of the product combined with the incomplete state of the prototype allowed the viewers imaginations a place to roam. I presented the prototype in such a way that it was clear I was not displaying a finished product, but was rather, making a suggestion. I asked, “how might something like this benefit or change the conversation? What potential might these have given your experience?” Many suggestions and insights came out of our meeting.

Proposal 2: Navigating The Psychological - Prototype Testing & Feedback

Financial Counseling Workshop

76

“I’m intrigued by it. Now there’s so much going on in any given person, I’m wondering what would be captured upon the surface. I mean, I’m looking at the car for example, that’s a good size writing surface, you can see a lot of stuff being captured on that car just as a visual - writing where they are, mistakes that were made, payments being crossed off…”

“I think it could be more than just capturing the story, I think it could be a means of motivation because you’re seeing where you want to be.”

In response to the style of the characters displayed:

“I wonder about this guy - how well will athletic boy go over with the average rough Rhode Island guy?”

“…You could have another one - Where do you want to be? OK, so here’s the idea, this is where you need to be. And as time goes by the notes and markings of their story change, the images change. I think that’s a pretty powerful tool, a motivating tool and an encouraging tool for a young couple - you know, wow-look, look where we’ve come. Look at the changes, these two now are starting to look alike and we’re getting somewhere - to me that would be a powerful motivator.”

Shortly after meeting with the minister, I had the opportunity to speak with a couple who had participated in his workshop. Their response to the initial prototype was both skeptical and promising. They saw the same potential that Jonathan had seen -

by envisioning changes over time and how these tools could be the vehicle for that visual difference.

“This lends itself to a therapy setting. I think with directed use they could help ideas flow. Especially for couples that are having a hard time communicating - like, we had some tough times and we needed someone else to help see what we were doing.”

“The things we write on could indicate what we’re paying attention to - what we value.”

“They would definitely need to come with some direction on how to use them.”

Proposal 2: Navigating the Psychological - Prototype Testing & Feedback

Prototype

First Iteration Prototype

77

Following these conversations I revised the prototype in several ways. First, I modified the form of the characters. No longer were they rendered in a stylized realism. Instead, I chose to represent them as simple “helvetica man / woman” icons. This would help to generalize the projection and association the user would have with them. Secondly, I added many images to the collection: baby, house, food, clothing, drinks, coffee, insurance, etc. In addition to these specific images, I

Proposal 2: Navigating The Psychological - Prototype Testing & Feedback

decided to include stylized dollar bills and generic forms to provide more writing surface and a decontextualized space for more conceptual responses. And finally, I added questions and prompts to the back of each of the images to spark the imagination and initiate conversation. This version was then tested with a young couple who have yet to participate in a financial workshop. Their experience validated my initial intent and paralleled the previous feedback.

“I like the shapes and the ability to arrange them into a picture - this makes the process more enjoyable - not such a dire thing. Just taking the budget and filling it out seems to imply that there is a problem in the first place. Just having it lying here next to me freaks me out.”

78

Proposal 2: Navigating the Psychological - Prototype Testing & Feedback

79

Some feedback from this round of testing:

“I learned some things about my partner I didn’t know before - and I thought I knew them pretty well.”

“I feel like the questions are important. They’re a productive distraction from the drudgery of filling out your budget. You don’t have to get too serious.”

“The budget is just these hard numbers - it doesn’t really probe anything. The numbers are more stressful - so this puts a different spin on the nature of the conversation. This (talking

about the imagery) makes a lot more sense to me. Having a budget you can follow is important - but what a budget item means to me on a page of numbers… I mean, what does $300 a month in insurance mean? You know? This changes the meaning of the conversation.”

“I like the shapes and the ability to arrange them into a picture - this makes the process more enjoyable - not such a dire thing. Just taking the budget and filling it out seems to imply that there is a problem in the first place. Just having it lying here next to me freaks me out.”


Conclusion

82Conclusion

83

The projects documented in this thesis illustrate a personal exploration in adopting and practicing a variety of methodologies for the purpose of managing the mess. This includes speculation on “what are the right questions to be asking?” -and- “What is the most important thing we could be focusing on?” Managing the mess also implies becoming part of the mess and engaging other relevant actors; what some might refer to as “co-design” or “participatory design.” For these meta-goals, I feel my process of exploration has been fruitful and constructive.

I do not speculate that these proposals are the end-all-be-all of a couple’s financial well-being, nor do I intend them to be. Cultures in different times and different places have applied other strategies to this challenge with varying degrees of success. I do, however, believe that at this time in the history of our culture, with its shifting gender roles and expectations, the malfeasance and socially unethical conduct found in its corporate institutions, and the financial literacy of its youth, it is important that we direct some effort at asking naive questions and proposing ideal solutions. The fabric of society can only be cared for by the individual constituents of that society. It is necessary that we take care and compassion in fostering responsible, effective behaviors that promote development and well-being at all levels of society.

In response to some of the suggestions and questions raised at the final presentation I would also like to comment on the model and scope of this thesis. A question was raised about the division

between the physical / psychological and what might exist between those spaces. My response is not a direct answer, but a reflection on the model itself. First of all, I do not believe that any model we create can be perfectly holisitic and comprehensive. All models are approximations and call upon somewhat arbitrary distinctions to create limits with which to work against; my model is no exception. Each proposal I’ve put forward calls upon both of these aspects of our humanity. While I am aware that these are imperfect distinctions, I made this division in process and in presentation to call attention to the narrow intention on which each proposal focuses.

Others commented on the applicability of these proposals to different user groups. One person believed that the electronic envelope system would be beneficial to individuals, not just couples. Another saw potential in the visual support tools to help children in middle and high school gain financial literacy. I was excited by this feedback as I shared their insights. I agree with these suggestions and believe that they grow from the strength of a very narrow demographic focus, or what may also be referred to as an extreme user group. By thoroughly evaluating the needs of a select “fringe” group, it is likely that you will satisfy the needs of many others as well. The proposals as they stand now would need modification to accomodate another group’s needs, but the potential to do so has been made explicit through the lens of their current, specific purpose.

Conclusion

84

Security

Choice

Power

Status

Dreams

Self-worth

Priorities

Values

Needs

Mobile

PC / Online

ATM

Checkout

Paper Ledger

Physical Psychological

Conclusion

Conclusion

86

Primary Research Overview

Observation

6 hours at Providence Place Mall

Surveys

Relationships + Money 104 responses

Prototype 25 responses

Interviews

5 Couples

12 Individuals in Relationships

3 Industry Executives

2 Financial Counselors

Focus Group

2 Groups, 6 couples total

87

What excites me most is the meaning and insight that comes from transformative exchange; when the synergy of collective perspectives enables the birth of a new vision.

We each have the potential to contribute from our being towards socially effective development; designing both the means and the ends by which we live out our ideals. We identify the human-environmental need and learn together through an iterative exchange. It is not simply a matter of predicting the future and responding accordingly, but rather of choosing the future within which we want to live.



Focus group with young couples

88

With what little time I’ve had to reflect on this exploration I have been left with the following impression of the designer’s role as I wish to practice it.

Although this is not necessarily a linear process I will begin with asking ideal seeking questions: “Where would we be if we could be anywhere we wanted to be, what would we be doing, how would we be doing it?” This gives us a sense of purpose and direction. The designer also acts as a sort of clearinghouse for stories from a variety of engaged actors. Insight is gathered from these stories that helps inform both our collective ideals and the methods by which we may most effectively pursue their attainment. As each actor comes to the stage with their own intent and perspective, the designer acts as a medium through which these varieties of meaning are fused. With this synthesized perspective in hand the designer is then charged with delivering relevancy, in whatever form it takes. This relevancy can be measured by its ability to foster learning and action potential that produces and maintains effective, social, systemic development.

Designer’s Role

Fabricate Ideal Seeking Questions

Collect Stories

Glean Insight

Synthesize Meaning & Perspectives

Deliver Relevancy

Structure Learning & Action Potential for Effective Social Development

Designer’s Role

89

Endnotes

90

1Senge, Peter M., The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of The Learning Organization (New York: Currency Doubleday, 1994) 206.

2http://www.definitionofwellness.com/dimensions-of-wellness/financial-wellness.html

3Ackoff, Russell L.., Ackoff’s Best: His Classic Writings on Management, (New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1999) 334.

4Ackoff 44.

5Singer, Edgar A., Experience and Reflection, (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1959) 275.

6Ackoff 117.

7http://www.support4change.com/spirit/expand/rumi.html

8Seligman, Martin E. P., Authentic happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment, (New York: Free Press, 2002) 249.

9Drucker, Peter F., The Essential Drucker: The Best of Sixty Years of Peter Drucker’s Essential Writings on Management, (New York: HarperBusiness, 2003) 191.

10Ackoff, Russell L. and Sheldon Rovin, Redesigning society, (Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 2003) 2.

11http://www.betterworld.net/quotes/peace-quotes-5.htm

12http://www.mymontessoriacademy.com/publicat.htm

13Time, Sex, and Money - The First Five Years of Marriage, (National study: Center for Marriage and Family, Creighton University, 2000) 7.

91

14 http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005061.html - source: US Census Bureau

15Time, Sex, and Money 71.

16Time, Sex, and Money 72.

17Polanyi, Karl, The Great Transformation, ([1st Beacon paperback ed.] Boston: Beacon Press, 1957) 46.

18Mandell, Lewis, Financial Literacy of Young American Adults, (National study: Jumpstart Coalition, University of Washington and The Aspen Institute. 2008) 5.

19Mandell 8.

20http://www.nycuf.org/financial_education/pdf/financialliteracystats.pdf

21http://www.money-101.com/50plusreasons/50-reasons-money-101-collection-personal-finance-statistics

22The State of Our Unions: Money & Marriage, (National study: Institute for American Values, University of Virginia: The National Marriage Project. 2009)16.

23The State of Our Unions 56.

24http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/lets-talk-money-honey-1164346

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