Design meets Neuroscience: Future directions for developing and implementing design probes
- Submitting institution
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Royal College of Art(The)
- Unit of assessment
- 32 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
- Output identifier
- Ivanova1
- Type
- E - Conference contribution
- DOI
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- Title of conference / published proceedings
- Design Research for Change: Symposium papers presented at the Design Museum 11-12 December 2019
- First page
- 93
- Volume
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- Issue
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- ISSN
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- Open access status
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- Month of publication
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- Year of publication
- 2019
- URL
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- Supplementary information
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- Request cross-referral to
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- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
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- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
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1
- Research group(s)
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- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- This is a peer-reviewed paper presented at the Design Research for Change (DR4C) conference (London, 2019) and published in an accompanying book.
The paper explored the application of design probes to train emotional intelligence (EI). It builds on Ivanova’s PhD thesis (2015) on the use of design probes to advance experience and mindset, through a collaboration with neuroscientist Flory. In design research, probes are used to capture human engagement with materials, products and technologies. The research question here was whether a design probe could be effectively applied in psychological settings to improve emotional intelligence and wellbeing.
Through interdisciplinary working, the authors implemented two design probes– a textile swatch; and a T-shirt template in the form of journals for self-practice and reflection, and a cardboard cut-out that was used within personal and professional development workshops. From observation of how participants engaged with the probes, and self-evaluation and critique of their efficacy, we were able to develop four process models on the design and development of probes that intersect design and neuroscience concepts, methods and practice.
Departing from the traditional line of scientific enquiry, and placing personal experience at the centre of the research aim and design, brought new insights about the importance of personal experience, self-expression, self-agency and meaning. Ivanova’s particular contribution was in bringing a design probe to a neuroscience enquiry, so that neuroscience concepts could translated, felt and experienced on personal level by individuals and groups, and in so doing, paved the way for employing design tools and methods within scientific research to develop practical, inclusive and accessible learning and development applications.
Other related outputs include: an article published in the Design Management Institute members’ magazine dmi:review (30:2), an exhibition of the T-shirt probes at London Design Festival 2019, and two public workshops at the Wellcome Collection (London, 2019).
- Author contribution statement
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- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
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