CITIZEN SCIENCE DESIGN THE ROLE OF PRODUCT DESIGNERS: A STUDY CASE, INSECTIVOROS

DS 95: Proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education (E&PDE 2019), University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. 12th -13th September 2019

Year: 2019
Editor: Bohemia, Erik; Kovacevic, Ahmed; Buck, Lyndon; Brisco, Ross; Evans, Dorothy; Grierson, Hilary; Ion, William; Whitfield, Robert Ian
Author: Francisco Javier Serón Torrecilla
Series: E&PDE
Institution: Higher School of Design of Aragon (Escuela Superior de Dise
Section: New Paradigms 2
DOI number: https://doi.org/10.35199/epde2019.19
ISBN: 978-1-912254-05-7

Abstract

Citizen science, an open participatory approach is gaining a renewed impulse thanks to the digital revolution (Green Paper on Citizen Science, 2014), encouraging people for a scientific literacy and researching in local contexts (Wals et al, 2014). In some way, design is being involved for this new way of expanded knowledge (Philips & Barley, 2013). An open design, co-design and so on, reframes new scenaries for design practice and the main role of designers. From academic contexts, our students are enriched for these experiences working together with scientists, professional and no professional people coming from different disciplines on a cross-disciplinary framework. Furthemore, open source tools, Fab-Labs, Open Labs are supporting a new relation between science, techonology, design and society (Díez, 2016 en Experimenta 72).

Around these reflections it has been staged the project “Insectivorous”, developing a co-design participatory project between Ibercivis Foundation of Citizen Science, students from the Higher School of Design of Aragon (HSDA, Zaragoza, Saping), biologists, electronical engineers, primary schools teachers and students, seniors and the agreement of the city council.

Maing goal has been assessing insects increasing and health disorders for citizens and the possible problem arising of decreasing insectivorous presence, and looking for solutions.

It has been implemented a plan during six month for incorporating the different stakeholders. At the first stage, Ibercivis Foundation was working together with students of product design (HSDA) around a question, how could we test the population of insectivorous? With the help of a teacher from the school in a bionical and biomimetic subjetc, they elaborated a programme and looking for the first relevant information. At a second stage, on a workshop meeting with the rest of the agents, the actions was focusing on sharing information about living beings and the needs for monitoring presence and keep track of activity at the urban natural areas. At the third, student designers changed common role into this cross-disciplinary project for guiding the prototype design of cabins for insectivorous that stakeholders have been tested (swallows, swifts, bats and geckos). This process it was carried out at the Open-Lab of the School and the Open-Lab of Etopía-Centre for Art and Technology a centre fron the city council with CNC, laser-cut and other digital devices.

At the end of the last stage in other workshop it was decided which prototype were the most adecuated for deploying at the urban area (primary schools, senior centres) and connecting IoT.

All the time it has been followed an open co-design methodology between the stakeholders of the project at the different stages including students working on an action-research reflection from the point of view of the design education objetive (Schön, 1992).

Prevous conclusiones could be done about design learning on an open scientist context. Students share knowledge implementing design, social and tecno-scientific competences into a more real complex problem and solution. It has been expected for the next month going on with the next steps of the project where it is under revision the future role of designers.

Keywords: citizen science, biomimetic, product design, open design, design thingking

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