IDSL (Fr) came to GOOD’11 to talk about collaboration. Their argument is that there is one vital ingredient without which designers can never truly reach the people their designing for – empathy. It’s via resonant, intimate, and emotional insights that designers can really connect with people’s lives – but even when these are available, designers still need the right tools in order to use them effectively.
IDSL’s presentation took an in-depth look at the different methods available for taking designers into the world they’re designing for. These tools are all designed to help those participating in a project or workshop move beyond technicalities; thinking in terms of emotion, rather than technology, is often the most effective way to create an empathic link with the world outside.
The tools they showcased revolve around a key notion; creating a space that’s playful and open enough to inspire real creativity, whilst remaining structured and focus enough to generate coherent, focused results.