Preparing Western Designers for the use of Contextmapping Techniques in Non-Western Situations
Year: 2011
Editor: Kovacevic, Ahmed, Ion, William, McMahon, Chris, Buck, Lyndon and Hogarth, Peter
Author: van Boeijen, Annemiek; Stappers, Pieter Jan
Series: E&PDE
Section: Design Methodology and Education 3
Page(s): 547-552
Abstract
The aim of this study is to determine how to prepare design students for the use of contextmapping techniques in non-Western cultures. The skill is especially needed when designing for Base of the Pyramid projects (BoP): the majority of the world's population that earns less than $2 purchasing power parity (PPP) per day. Six barriers were found and turned into six general guidelines. The guidelines are operational by linking them to three main aspects of contextmapping: (1) selection of participants; (2) design of topic, materials and sessions; and (3) the roles and attitude of facilitators. For each aspect operational instructions are defined for design students preparing their BoP project.
Keywords: Culture, contextmapping techniques, base of the pyramid, design education, design methods & techniques & tools