Micro UX: Glasshouse
Exploring, exploding, exploiting process, criticality and interaction in relation to user experience design.
Brief
Design a way to transform a public place into a feminist space.
Team-mates
Jumleena Bhagawati, Weiting Chi, Jennoir, Yanxu Chen, Kimberly Rodrigues, Xiyuan Han (Cyrus), Harry Solomons
Date
20/04/23 - 27/04/23
Title: Peter and John at the Beautiful Gate, 1600-1650. One of a set of eight depicting the acts of the Apostles, after the cartoons of Raphael.
Welcome to week 3 of Micro UX. In this blog I have presented our documentation of our research on 3rd spaces, process of developing of our concept using different activities and discussing our ideas in our resentation of the utilization of our feminist space.
- Roadmap -
- 3rd Space Concept -
The concept of the "third space" refers to a social environment or place that is distinct from the home (first space) and the workplace (second space). The concept was popularized by urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his book "The Great Good Place." According to Oldenburg, the third space is essential for building social connections, fostering a sense of community, and promoting civic engagement. It is a space where individuals from different backgrounds can come together, exchange ideas, and form social bonds.
The third space can take various forms, including cafes, parks, community centers, libraries, or even virtual spaces in the digital realm. What characterizes these spaces is their accessibility, informality, and their ability to create a sense of belonging and social interaction. They often provide a neutral ground where people can engage in leisure activities, hold conversations, or participate in community events. The importance of third spaces lies in their potential to strengthen social ties, promote inclusivity, and enhance the overall quality of life in communities. They serve as platforms for cultural exchange, creative expression, and the development of social capital. The third space allows individuals to connect with others outside of their immediate social circles, facilitating interactions and collaborations that may not typically occur in the home or workplace.
We were captivated with the idea of creating a third space or third place (as we call it) as we felt this had the potential to be feminist spaces due to their inclusive and empowering nature.
It challengs Traditional Gender Roles. Third spaces can provide a platform for challenging and redefining traditional gender roles and expectations. They offer opportunities for women and marginalized genders to express themselves, engage in activities, and form social connections outside of the confines of their homes or workplaces. By providing an alternative space for diverse individuals to participate and lead, third spaces can challenge patriarchal norms and promote gender equality.
It fosters intersectional dialogue: Third spaces can facilitate intersectional dialogue and understanding by bringing together individuals from various backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Feminism encompasses the recognition of the interconnectedness of gender with other social identities such as race, class, sexuality, and ability. Third spaces that actively promote diversity and inclusivity can serve as platforms for intersectional feminist conversations, where different perspectives are valued and diverse issues are addressed.
It promoting empowerment and agency. Feminist spaces prioritize empowering individuals, giving them agency over their lives, and promoting their voices and contributions. Third spaces can provide a supportive and inclusive environment where women and marginalized genders can build confidence, explore their interests, and develop skills. These spaces often emphasize collaboration, personal growth, and empowerment, which align with feminist principles of self-determination and autonomy.
It can address gendered urban experiences. Women and marginalized genders often face specific challenges and safety concerns in public spaces. Third spaces that are consciously designed to be welcoming, safe, and accessible can create an environment where everyone feels comfortable and respected. By addressing gendered urban experiences and actively working to remove barriers, these spaces contribute to a more feminist and equitable city.
Overall, the concept of the third space highlights the significance of creating and nurturing communal gathering places that contribute to social cohesion, well-being, and a sense of community in urban and social contexts. Thus for our next phase we started with brainstorming on the design of our feminist space keeping the concept of third space in mind.
- Ideation -
Crazy 8's
Each of us came up with 8 ideas in 8 minutes. Then we went through each of our ideas.
By the end of the activity, we had 48 ideas which could help us with the foundation when developing our prototype. From the list of 48 ideas, we selected a few that stood out to us the most.
Selection
The group agreed that there were 3 ideas that particularly stood out to us. All of these ideas were based on the concept of creating a third space (or third place, as we call it).
One was a space for people to gather and listen to their own music. The second was a place that could convert into a closed space with padded walls for people to scream or take their frustrations out. The third was telephone booths across London which would be converted to 3rd places for passersby to rest/play in.
- Deliberation-
The Thinking Hat technique was used to guide and structure the decision-making process of our Crazy 8s. The technique involves using different metaphorical "hats" to represent different perspectives, enabling individuals or groups to explore various aspects of a situation.
We used this technique as it encourages participants to consider different perspectives, challenge assumptions, and explore a more comprehensive range of possibilities. It ensures that multiple viewpoints are heard and considered, fostering collaboration and reducing biases. It also provides a framework that helps to focus discussions and prevent unproductive conflicts.
Each hat represents a different mode of thinking:
White Hat: Factual and objective thinking, focusing on available information and data.
Red Hat: Emotional and intuitive thinking, considering gut feelings and emotional reactions.
Black Hat: Critical and cautious thinking, examining potential risks and drawbacks.
Yellow Hat: Positive and optimistic thinking, looking at potential benefits and opportunities.
Green Hat: Creative and innovative thinking, generating new ideas and possibilities.
Blue Hat: Process and overview thinking, managing the thinking process and facilitating the discussion.
By doing this activity we decided to analyze the different crazy 8 ideas and potentially combine the best parts of all the ideas to create the most valuable concept.
- Presentation -
In our presentation, we delved into the extensive research conducted on the topic of 3rd space. We presented our Crazy 8 ideas and how we analyzed the potential of our ideas through anothe activity "Thinking Hat" . Through this analysis, we demonstrated how we were able to identify trends, correlations, and potential future directions for further investigation. By synthesizing the collective knowledge, our goal was to offer valuable insights and contribute to the ongoing conversation surrounding this area of feminist space. Ultimately, the presentation served as a platform for sharing our findings, fostering dialogue, and inspiring further exploration of the subject matter.
- Evaluation & Feedback -
After seeing the demonstration the class came up with the following insights to aid us with our concept and design further down the road: 1. The concept should target a specific group of people. 2. We should embrace co-designing with communities. 3. Its important to keep in mind that the design should be replicable.
4. It was well received that our initial ideas were heading in a playful direction rather than political.
- Reflection -
After analyzing the feedback we realized that we need to explore ore in terms of encouraging of fun and play. For the upcoming week, we decided to fully focus on conceptualizing our third space. We kept it mind that while third spaces have the potential to be feminist, it requires intentional efforts to ensure inclusivity, address power dynamics, and promote intersectionality. By actively incorporating feminist principles and fostering a culture of respect, equality, and empowerment, third spaces can become spaces where feminist values are upheld and practiced.
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