Information Design and Design Empathy

Byron was invited to present DD+D's Design Empathy workshop for the Information Design class at Columbia College this month.




Course description: This course teaches
students the basic principles and practice of
information design. Students investigate,
design and test visual processes; develop
information systems; map data; graph paths;
and create interactive displays.


General Information: In this course students
examine information design through the lens of
user-centered design and design research
methodology. They begin with a discussion
of theory and practice of information design,
and then are introduced to the concept of “design 
thinking.” The focus of this class is how
information is communicated through design.
This is a broad definition of “design” and
students learn the importance of understanding
users, in order to ensure that products and
services meet their needs.

Here are pics from the class and participant feedback

Student feedback comments:
"I actually enjoyed the handshake before class. To me, that was like taking time out to see me individually. Keep up the good work, you're funny!"
"It was very interesting to learn about corporate examples of empathizing w/the user and the presentation was fun and interactive."
"Byron, you have a wonderful gift of communication,"
"Byron was very into teaching and speaking to the class."
"It was entertaining and interactive, which allowed for information to be absorbed."
"Created a really different way of viewing things,ideas and people."
"It got blood flowing and gave a new perspective."
"It helped me better understand the role of em path in design."
" I usually don't enjoy interactive learning but I actually learned some valuable info about design."
"Great speaker, kept me engaged throughout the presentation and shared knowledge effectively!"

ServLab and Service Theatre

DD+D recently discovered ServLab and we've been working on a partnership!

(New) Services are frequently developed unsystematically and not sufficiently conceptualized and tested. 
This challenge is addressed through the ServLab facility at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering. It incorporates a stage for acting out service scenarios and a large virtual reality (VR) backdrop to simulate the servicescape. 
In particular, the ServLab makes it possible to test and visualize new service concepts (using VR), create an environment that is as close as possible to reality (e.g. by playing back sounds or introducing odors  and to rehearse the interaction between customers and employees with the support of actors (service theatre).

Here is a great example of how ServLab uses Service Theatre 

DD+D is Featured in Outside In Book

DD+D work with McDonald's is featured in Foresster Research's latest book Outside In. p.111

The author's six disciplines of a mature customer experience organization provide a basis for the book. Each discipline is its own chapter covering:
Strategy, Customer Understanding, Design Measurement, Governance, and Culture.
It's a great read!