Human-Centered Design in Tokyo
Japan is globally recognized for its technological advancement and its general embrace of technology adoption. Despite this, human-centered methods are still underrepresented in Japanese University education and in industry practice. Japanese industrial and academic leaders, such as President of Chiba Institute of Technology Dr. Joichi Ito, are eager to support human-centered design practice in Japan by inviting students from other universities to collaborate with their own. Japan has some advances in disability accessibility, particularly in its urban centers, but larger social movements for disabled equality are fairly young. A technology design program which focuses on disability advocacy through sociotechnical design projects may support these movements in culturally sensitive ways. Attitudes toward disability are evolving in both countries, but along different paths.Exploring the synergies and dissonances in these, as influenced by political, historical, and cultural contexts is an exceptional learning opportunity for students interested in technology design for disability.
Objectives for the course include:
- Assess and articulate how historical, cultural, and social contexts influence and co-construct design spaces, problem areas, and potential solutions.
- Create research protocols using industry standard User Experience techniques derived from qualitative sociological and anthropological methods which support effective data collection and lead to quality design insights.
- Analyze qualitative data from individuals and communities directly impacted by technology design decisions within their historical, cultural, and social contexts to inform robust and sustainable design solutions.
- How to apply their design and technology skills in a culturally relevant manner that does not assume what has worked for them in school in the US will work for them in the global workplace.
- How to do design research in an unfamiliar cultural context and make design decisions that do not universalize, Americanize, or otherwise assume ideas about what makes decisions “good”.
Tentative Program Itinerary
- DAY 1: Meet Design Team which includes Chiba Technology students, Learn about disability advocacy groups, Scavenger Hunt
- DAY 2: Tokyo Imperial Palace tour, History & Culture lecture, Methods lecture, Documentary viewing
- DAY 3: Tea ceremony and Lecture, History lecture, Methods lecture & reflection activities, Immersive Art Exhibition
- DAY 4: Tosho-gu Shrine, Public Policy lecture, Design Sprint
- DAY 5: Postal Museum, Public Policy lecture, Methods lecture, Design Sprint
- DAY 6: Metro Museum, History/Policy lecture, Methods lecture, Design Sprint
- DAY 7: Tokyo National Museum, Meiji Jinghu, Design Sprint
- DAY 8: Design meeting, Sensou-Ji and Asakusa cultural experience, Group Dinner
- DAY 9: Design Sprint Day 1
- DAY 10: Design Sprint Day 2
- DAY 11: Design Sprint Day 3
- DAY 12: Design Sprint Day 4
- DAY 13: Family Day - Present designs to Families at expo event
- DAY 14: Group presentations, Reflection, Farewell Dinner
See program flyer.
Click here to enroll in this program
Contact program leader Rua Williams via email with your questions.