The MPATHY Lens is about having an intersectional approach to engaging with community. It is about working creatively through the lens of Design Research, Futures, and Systems.
Design Research
What is it?
Design Research is being clear about what question(s) you want answered, and getting to the core of what matters most for those you serve. It’s designing for authentic conversations and drawing insights. It values inclusivity, prototyping, iteration, and capacity building.
How might we do this work?
- Pulling from various different research methods to create and/or facilitate bespoke workshops and conversations.
- Qualitative research done through a variety of methods, and analysis and synthesis of findings.
- Creating participatory, ethical, and engaging opportunities to collaborate with others.
Futures
What is it?
Futures covers a range of methods from Design Fiction (the use of fiction to bring possible future scenarios to life) to Strategic Foresight (more tethered frameworks to develop for e.g. long term strategy).
The future is coming, and it is a share time and space, so my futures work focuses on engaging broader cross sections of society in the possible futures conversation.
How might we do this work?
- Analysis of signals, trends, and drivers from a range of fields
- Bespoke futures workshops that co-create a range of possible future scenarios (subject specific)
- Creative design installations that bring a possible future scenario to life (to probe conversation, engagement)
- Strategic Foresight workshops to develop corporate strategy, etc.
Systems
What is it?
Systems design is about trying to visualize relationships, hierarchies, identify unlikely partnerships and, ultimately, opportunities to instigate/support change amongst diverse stakeholders. Our daily lives are embedded in deeply complex and, often times, invisible webs of relationships. Visualizing the complexity is not to be confused with simplifying it.
How might we do this work?
- Systems mapping is a tool to visualize the complexity of stakeholders and their relationships and interactions.
- Synthesis mapping is another visual narrative tool that involves a visualizing of a system with a layer of qualitative knowledge.
- Facilitated workshop to guide you through the process of mapping a system as a first step to bring various stakeholders together, or visualize the complexity of your work.