2015-02-21 (2a)

Design Challenge: How might we make the Empathy Tent a more engaging space?

What is the problem you’re trying to solve?

  • We want more people to get involved in the empathy tent.

2) Now state the ultimate impact you’re trying to have.

  • engagement

  • involvement

  • participation

  • connection

    • support

3) What are some possible solutions to your problem?

Think broadly. It’s fine to start a project with a hunch or two, but make sure you allow for surprising outcomes.

    • engagement attracts engagement

    • create a fun community of engagement

  • a positive feeling would attract others.

    • have questions of the day that people can engage in.

4) Finally, write down some of the context and constraints that you’re facing.

They could be geographic, technological, time-based, or have to do with the population you’re trying to reach.

    • permits

    • wind/weather - could blow over

    • other events taking the space

    • people are busy and don't want to engage

    • people don't want a big commitment

5) Does your original question need a tweak? Try it again.

  • no, works well

What are the aspects of the challenge that you already know a lot about? What are your assumptions?

Examples

- I know it’s difficult, if not impossible, to find fresh fruit in my neighborhood.

- I’m under the general assumption that unhealthy options are cheaper than their healthier counterparts

    • I've already had experiences with the empathy tent

    • a percentage of people just want by and don't even give eye contact

  • a percentage of people stop and talk

    • I found that flyers on the tent poles attracted people to look and read them. I could then go over and talk the the people

    • handing out flyers at the BART entrance was not successful. people came up the escalator and didn't want to take a flyer

    • flyers are large.. saw smaller flyers that seemed to work well. maybe a tri fold

Where are the aspects of the design challenge where you need to learn more? What don’t you know?

Examples

- Do people who need healthier food options want to eat healthier?

- Are healthy food options generally accessible to people? Where do they go to find them?

    • need to generate and test ideas

    • test topic areas

    • empathy in healthcare, animals, for police, for homeless

    • what are people stopping or not stopping?

    • people don't' seem to stop if you look lonely..

    • more about my own state of mind standing there.

    • Project: dialog with a homeless person -

      • create a quick prototype

      • community members come by to empathically listen to a homeless person.

      • Check with homeless go pro, homeless groups,

      • participant practice Pre, empathic listening. talk about your feelings, exceptions and any concerns about the dialog..

      • Then listen for 45 minutes.

      • Then do post empathy circle.

A. People to Learn from (Precrafted—3+ individuals // Personal—8+ individuals)

    • family

    • friends

B. Experts to Speak to (Precrafted—1+ expert // Personal—3+ experts)

    • UC marketing dept.

C. In-Context Immersion Locations (Precrafted—2+ locations // Personal—4+ locations)

    • passersby of the empathy tent

D. Analogous Inspiration Locations (Precrafted—1+ location // Personal—3+ locations

    • Post Office Protest tent

      • have candy

      • a project of creating the garden worked well

    • other tents

    • Farms Market.

Build an Interview Guide

    • Hi, How are you today?

    • I'm ___ from the empathy tent and we're a movement to address the empathy deficit in our communities by creating more empathy.

    • We're also working on a project on how to engage people in our movement.

    • Could I ask you a few questions about your sence of engagment in the empathy tent?

    • What attracted you to come over?

    • What would aissit you in getting more involved?

    • When have you really been engaged in something? tell the story?

    • When have you really NOT been engaged in something? tell the story?

    • Why is that important to you, 5 whys?

    • Thank you!