Process

Our goal is not to isolate and solve problems. It’s to connect issues – and to connect people – in order to fully understand the challenges we face in a broader context. Only then can we find innovative ways to inspire changes that are economically, ecologically and socially responsible. Supporting this triple-bottom line approach in order to pursue sustainability is a shared passion among MID faculty, students and partners.

It all begins with our cyclical design process, which creates value as learning happens, as new knowledge is created. Allowing us to develop a body of research and theory that is comprehensive, cohesive and accessible to all stakeholders. But we don’t stop there. Once we’ve built a valuable knowledge base, we put it to work. Hosting hands-on workshops. Conducting design interventions. Modeling and prototyping concepts for evaluation. And iterating ideas based on the invaluable, real-time feedback we get working side-by-side with our partners.

It all begins with our cyclical design processIt all begins with our cyclical design process

observe

Organization or community approaches MID@UArts with a perceived design problem.

connect

Design team reframes the design problem. Identifies core issues of the given condition.

search

Overarching question is broken down into issues of environmental, economic and social sustainability.

model

As issues are investigated in parallel and combination, small design interventions are developed to establish active learning.

present

Through action research and critical investigation, an appropriate methodology for design action is proposed.

propose

Design-orienting scenarios lay the foundation for socially relevant design.