A Shift in the Research Design Approach: Reporting on the Complexities of the Application of Human Centred Design and the Co-Design Process in a Library Setting

Abstract

This paper reports on a practice-based study, re-evaluating the brand and wayfinding design of the Sasolburg Public Library (SPL) through the integration of Human-Centred Design (HCD) thinking, Participatory Action Research (PAR) and the HCD IDEO toolkit. Findings suggest that although HCD is valuable within the realm of research, the integration of HCD processes in practice inhibited the successful finalization of a design outcome, within a library setting. Considering this, tensions are confirmed between the design in practice and the democracy embedded within HCD. By recognizing identified tensions, suggestions are made to better accommodate the divergent roles of the designer and community participant – allowing each to remain a specialist within their designated fields. The findings of this study contribute to the HCD process and its integration within design practice.

Keywords:

• human centred design
• wayfinding
• tensions
• problem solving processes
• library

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Danelle Heenop

Danelle Heenop practises as Junior Graphic Design Lecturer at the Vaal University of Technology, specializing in Graphic Design. Her Masters dissertation focuses on Human Centred Design (HCD) and its integration into design practice, presenting a case study of the integration of HCD thinking within a public library setting identifying tensions between research and practice.

Allan Munro

Allan Munro holds a PhD in Theatre from the Ohio State University. Although his primary research area was theatre, the past 15 years have been devoted to the task of teaching, developing and supporting research endeavours that are linked to Arts and Design. He has supervized to completion Masters and Doctoral degrees in Fine Arts, Music, Photography, Graphic Design, Theatre, Film and Fashion. His current work is around Practice-led Research (or Practice as Research) in the Design field. He has also published or presented papers at conferences in many of these domains. His creative work lies in playwriting.

Katarazyne Chmela-Jones

Kate Chmela-Jones has taught at VUT for 18 years and is currently the Senior Lecturer and Programme Coordinator for Graphic Design. Kate’s research interests are in human-centred design and its application to graphic design education.