Making the Familiar Strange:

The Pencil

Engaging with an object that is seemingly simple, and everyday in a meticulous way with other people helps reveal unique and overlooked properties of a specific object. Being conscious of the how of our choices and their outcomes helps build this skill. This skill when honed, can lead to novel insights where others see only the obvious.

What the participants takeaway

1.

2.

Everyday objects embody an immense amount of information if we know how to look at them. Getting weird and curious about 'normal stuff' can lead to new insights and understanding.

To create 'new knowledge', it is important to be specific about what one is observing and avoid generalisations based on memory or secondary data.

3.

4.

Every object is unique and has its own story to tell. All objects from a shared category do not follow the exact same life trajectory.

Learn to make visible your own methods and practice - how we observe, document and organise knowledge.

Skills Used

  1. Observation

  2. Documentation

  3. Discovery

  4. Description

  5. Making & Reflection

  6. Critique

  7. Collaboration

  8. Analysis

  9. Communication

Adhish Ravichandran - "C17: Foundation" (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

Observation

Good observation of the mundane engages multiple sense and experimentation with others to help separate and document our assumptions from what actually is. Observation moves from micro facets of a single object outwards to its immediate and larger contextual interactions and relations.

Documentation

Here are two kinds of documentation - one of a material object in a robust manner and the second of the process of observation. Documenting the what of the process and its (learning) outcomes helps on strategically evolve their design practice.

Discovery

Here the participants RE-discover the world by looking at the material world with fresh senses that acknowledge assumptions or past knowledge and 'what is' in the process of discovery. They also reflect and attempt to discover their own practice.

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.

Discovery

Identification of new opportunities, market insights, and customer needs, leading to increased revenue and competitive advantage.

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.