#designmethods

The cards were also redesigned to be 6 instead of 8, and were made out of 1/4 inch white acrylic for reusability.

I also designed extra consequence chips I used to give an example of what a consequence could sound like, and how to play the game.

Upon observing the workshop, I noticed how efficient the acrylic material ended up being, as the participants liberally wrote erased and rewrote their consequences while they were vocalizing them to the group and discussing how to word them.

There was again a lot of excitement when landing the chips on the circles. Despite designing this iteration to include 1st tier and 2nd tier consequences (aka direct and indirect) on the design of the board, it seems as though the more signals they were eager to reveal, the more they were focused on generating newer consequences based on the revealed signals.

By the end of the futures wheel, participants asked if they could add in more consequences than could fit on the board, which they could, so perhaps I could increase the number of landing circles on the board so as to encourage generating more consequences.

For this iteration, the participants were instructed to fill in 2 challenge cards instead of 4 like in the previous workshop. These two challenge cards should then be the focus of two futures designed by two pairs using the 6 card deck.

With this change, I noticed that the scenario building activity went from an individual activity to something that generated conversation between two people, and moved along way faster than when each participant had to fill in 8 cards.

Once the pairs finished building their futures, they then presented them to the other pair, named them and placed them within the Future Cones, before moving on to designing an object / space / service for their future.

The two final futures were:

The two final futures were

1. Vetopia

A future where a large % of Saudi citizens become invested in studying animals and becoming veterinarians > The community built was one that had Veterinary schools, advanced clinics, research labs, and embraces animal inclusive spaces.

2. Pet Smart

Another observation was that the chips were too small for the participants to write on, and they preferred using pens instead of markers on the Future Scenario Building Deck.

After completing the Carrom Future Wheel phase, each participant was handed a deck of 8 cards, with prompts to fill in which would ideally create a full comprehensive picture of their future worlds. 

This is when I introduced to them the concept of the Future Cones, urging them to consider the Possibility, Plausibility, Probablity and Preferability of the changes and factors they are considering for their worlds.

“genetic mutation of animals so that they can communicate with the humans more effectively, and to advance solutions in reproduction”

Another thing I noticed was that, as Arabs, we will obviously have a tendency to write and interpret things in Arabic. This gave me the idea of later designing the deck and prompts to be bilingual.

After each one filled in their individual Future Scenario Building deck, and built  their individual worlds, they were encouraged to present them to each other, and discuss the possibilities and impacts of these future worlds.

Although this generated a lot of thought-provoking discussion, bringing up cultural and religious barriers relevant to the mentalities back home, I noticed how many of the future scenarios built were, in fact, quite speculative. Despite being grounded in science, felt a bit too fictional and far from present issues and the focus on urban living I was initially hoping this workshop would take.

After discussions ended, they were encouraged to place their scenarios in a category according to the Future Cones, and all decide on one future to design for.

The future decided on was “Beastialitopia”

The group then used the tools I had provided to create a community that embraced Beastiality. They designed a hidden community in the middle of the desert, in which modular design was embraced as the building blocks for their co-living spaces with their pets.

The community built included a shrine to the animal Gods, a lab that genetically modified interspecies specimens such as mermaids, fertilizing poop stations (which fertilized the park of course), and a justice system that kills off rogue animals and humans that do not adhere to the rules of consensual loving.

Step 2: PREP

Ideally, I want to design the Majlis with the traditional prints and pillows seen in the picture below. Scouting multiple thrift stores, however, I ran out of luck finding anything similar.

I did, however, find decor items and knickknacks that could be used for the Saudi incense and to store the cards like the one below.

My second best bet was World Cost Market, which sells a lot of oriental looking furniture and decor. As I am most likely designing a board, I wanted to get a floor pillow like the ones below, to prop it on top of. The ones pictured are very reminiscent of home decor used in the Western Regions of KSA (Jeddah, Makkah and Medina being the most prominent cities in that region), where the culture is inspired by the massive influx of merchants and pilgrims.

I also scouted out rugs and pillows to cover the floor and line the walls of my studio, and found these as the closest to those back home, while not seeming too oriental and, well, “appropriated”.

An interesting find were these plastic “picnic” floor covers below, which are in fact Indian, however quite commonly seen in Saudi Arabia in outdoor contexts.

This is most likely due to immigration and merchants. 

IDEO’S DESIGN METHODS CARDS:

Not only did I take inspiration from the way these cards are formatted: very clear and categorized, using the backside to illustrate the steps in photographs... etc. But I also found myself inspired by the methods in the cards themselves, perhaps using them in my own methodology for this project, and workshop prototypes. 

For example, using scenario testing, long-range forecasting and character profiles in the steps of my workshop, and using a time-lapse video to document the workshop and later analyze the flow of the room to see pros and cons of my methodology.

IDEO’S DESIGNING FOR PUBLIC SERVICES:

Although these ideas fit more in the context of problem solving for current issues, it will be interesting to see how some of these methodologies fit into a futures thinking context: perhaps adding them as “helper” cards.

EXTRAPOLATION FACTORY:

What I admire about their methodology is how they facilitate creation and conceptualization through giving people basic tools and steps that make such a process less daunting.

Most of their workshops feature a simple straight forward prompt such as the one below. They also encourage sketching and iteration, and I appreciate the use of the pen and paper as the first step. These are approaches I will probably adopt to initiate the final stage of my workshop.

What I also appreciate is their use of materials that already exist as the building blocks for the future products, inviting people’s own imagination of what these objects could represent in a future product. Finally, the way they photograph and/or exhibit these artifacts turns them into works of art that the creators would be proud of.

A project I really admire  is Pawn Tomorrow, which enables 

“Visitors to the museum [..] to make pawn shop submissions of “items that don’t yet exist” using The Extrapolation Factory’s futures-oriented tools. Submissions were manifested as described, illustrated and prototypes items that were then exhibited in the glass cases of the speculative pawn shop. The installation incorporated prompts for thinking about the future, such as instances of recent and ongoing research, developing technologies and emerging social issues. These prompts, which we refer to as our “instance database” served as starting points to help visitors imagine possible future scenarios, the needs that would arise, and artifacts that would exist because of these needs.”

A

What are the ways that grassroots movements form and medias through which like-minded young individuals communicate their thoughts and push for policy changes back in Saudi Arabia?

Grassroots movements met with skepticism, and often opposition. Gov led movements often miss target audience by margin. A lot on initiatives aren’t well advertised. (Saudi customs launched biking initiative with campaign of man biking from Riyadh to Bahrain,, but no coverage) Economic initiatives taking off and better advertised: Few Saudi apps & startups.  Reaching the Saudi audience is hard: fine line between advertising well enough and over doing it. Most communication happens on Twitter: Saudi Arabia is #1 user of it in the world. Average user has 3 twitter accounts.

Is there any urgent need to fix one specific aspect of living back home? What is it, and how can I potentially focus on it for this project? (What are people demanding?) ——————————-

What, in your opinion, is an area of improvement that needs to be addressed in the quality of life of people back home?

From a judicial point of view, its convoluted, king’s desire and shariah law. This year is the year of entertainment, efforts have been stellar. Culture: new ministry have a list of 27 initiatives.

How can I encourage them to take initiative, and make them feel like their voices can actually be heard? (questionnaire?)

They talk about but don’t really act on creating change. They know that any decisions they make wont really make an impact. The gov didn’t do much to make them feel like they should even be a part of it. Get an influencer. The Saudi people are reeling, they are “shook”, torn and unable to come to a consensus about what is happening. Saudi Seasons: 11 seasons of entertainment happening around KSA in 2019. In Sharqiah (East PRovince) 83 diff events in a 15 day period: overwhelming, some opposed and some embracing the change. Everything needs to be marketed, its all a commodity.  I have to prove actual engagement in the project. Talk to people who have experience with conducting workshops: HRDF, Hadaf.

Do you know how the government gages the people’s reaction to civic legislations, prior and post implementation? Have you heard of this “rumor spreading” technique? How does it work? Is it legit?  Who is in charge of putting the word out there, and tracking reactions, and what are the ways it could be improved / can I spread rumors to gage people’s reaction as an experiment or would I be in trouble for it?

Calculated leaks, comes from the government, whispered into the right ear at the right time, not necessarily the entire accurate truth. It happens on a lot of different platforms, depends on who’s leaking it and what its for. Press release, change one thing ever so slightly to find out where the leaks come from.

Have you heard of Futures Thinking? Do you know whether it is adopted in decision making in Saudi Arabia?

In its current form, it might not be embraced. Saudi culture is cynical and jaded, saudi people don’t want to help themselves.

Psychographic & Demographic insights.

Saudi people are skeptical about everything. Youth Bulge: 60% under thirty. 15 - 30 primary target audience for anything happening in Saudi Cinicism : lack of resources and attention: Saudi youth in difficult position because of outside politics and the older generation Stereotypes: 30% active and involved, the others not so much. Mostly entitled, and expect things to be done for them. Why not go to the uae, stand back and see the saudi government going through rapid changes (hormonal teenager). Workshop that helps communication between people of different ideologies > needs to be marketed well. (free food and certificate) Misk does a lot of youth engagement > find someone from there. (kind of a joke) I will probably be turned down on a municipal and decision making level.

B

What are the ways that grassroots movements form and medias through which like-minded young individuals communicate their thoughts and push for policy changes back in Saudi Arabia?

Twitter democracy, where people actually give their voice, and are actually being heard. The average age of government officials in their thirties, and they’re people who want to be in touch with the population. What, in your opinion, is an area of improvement that needs to be addressed in the quality of life of people back home? Embracing people who are underprivileged, there is an increase in the divide, what with the increase in the entertainment that seems elitist. It will disenfranchise those people. They do use social media, due to its accessibility, however not as much as the well educated people. More of a civil society: one thing that is absent, they need to be engaged and empowered, and they feel ownership.

How can I encourage them to take initiative, and make them feel like their voices can actually be heard?

They would take the opportunity to be involved with government decision making.  Traditional majlis society- it was very collaborative in the past: they would rule by consensus. Saudis are quite apathetic as people: in terms of activism, they want people to do it for them > they need a shift in mindset and incentive. Sense of entitlement, and never felt part of this decision making process.

Do you know how the government gages the people’s reaction to civic legislations, prior and post implementation? Have you heard of this “rumor spreading” technique? How does it work? Is it legit?  Who is in charge of putting the word out there, and tracking reactions, and what are the ways it could be improved / can I spread rumors to gage people’s reaction as an experiment or would I be in trouble for it?

Haven’t heard of this.

Leakages change some decisions: Example of when people on twitter were outraged at the “leaked” idea that stores were no longer closing during our 5/day prayer times as part of the Jawdat Al Hayah program. This reaction discouraged policy makers from going through with it.

Have you heard of Futures Thinking? Do you know whether it is adopted in decision making in Saudi Arabia?