Communicating knowledge:

The Personal Object Exercise

Using a personal object, we leverage the documentation of our familiarity with the material world to reveal and reflect upon the boundaries of our knowledge, and welcome others perspectives to enrich your own.

What the participants takeaway

1.

2.

It's always exciting to explore new perspectives and learn from others. It opens up a whole new world of knowledge and understanding.

There is power in sharing our subjective viewpoints openly. By externalizing our thoughts and opinions, we create an inclusive space for diverse voices to be heard and valued.

3.

4.

It's important to distinguish between facts and perceptions. Facts are based on concrete evidence, while perceptions are shaped by personal interpretations. By recognizing this difference, we can make informed decisions.

Choices are not binary (good or bad) or universal (the same for everyone). Choices are influenced by individual perspectives. Considering different viewpoints and embracing the idea that there's more than one way to approach a situation broadens our options and leads to richer outcomes.

Skills Used

  1. Observation

  2. Communication

  3. Documentation

  4. Description

  5. Making & Reflection

  6. Critique

  7. Discovery

  8. Analysis

Rashmi Kumar - "C15: The Personal Object Exercise" (2022)

Digital work created on Miro, Agency Program, Centre for Complexity in collaboration with Wongdoody-Infosys

Let’s take a look at how we explore a few of these skills

Documentation

The choice of mediums and consideration of diverse perspectives, scales, contexts, and associations in their documentation significantly influenced the depth and richness of the ensuing discussions.

Communication

Discussion and critique between participants is guided by how we communicate our knowledge - inclusion and exclusion, placement and categorisation etc. on the board for all to engage.

Observation

The participant observed the objects materiality closely using multiple mediums of inquiry like revealing texture and patterns of the object. They also noticed and shared aspects of memory/time, scale, and contexts.

The Business Value of Design Methods and Skills

Documentation

A good documentation practice can makes the invisible design process visible. It leverages design methods to improve cross stakeholder collaboration and operationalising a shared vision, efficiency and streamlined decision-making.

Communication

Communication can build collaborative relationships between internal departments and external stakeholders. Effective communication leads to an inspired and driven team, better decision-making, higher productivity, and long term trust.

Observation

The ability to observe the world, notice opportunities and patterns in a system can lead to a competitive edge, Improved systems understanding beyond user behavior and needs, leading to more holistic user experiences, increased customer satisfaction, and higher conversion rates.