Researching the Future of Housing with Design Fiction
Exploring Student Housing Pain Points and Potentials through Design Fiction and Co-Design
ROLE
Research, Data Analysis, Facilatation
METHODOLOGIES
Survey | Card Sorting| Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis | Journey Mapping | A Day in Life | Design Fiction | Co-design
PROJECT TYPE
Research
OUTCOME
A provocative future scenario designed to spark dialogue about pain points and potential opportunities in student housing around the Ohio State campus.
COLLOBORATORS
Designer | Cognitive Systems Engineer
The areas around Ohio State University are rapidly developing, with plans for more eateries, apartments, and community spaces. This graduate design research course explores what life could be like in these neighborhoods 10 to 15 years from now by engaging directly with current residents.
Context
Students often settle for what's available since they only plan to live in the area during their studies.
Our team focused on improving the quality of off-campus life, using co-design and design fiction to spark discussions on how to enhance these living conditions.
Project's Objective
Exploration Space
Design Fiction
Co-design
Off-campus Housing Problems
Design practice focuses on creating, exploring, and critiquing possible futures.
Typically, pre-made artifacts are presented to the public for critique and reaction.
Design Fiction (DF) is a relatively new research and design practice that engages both society and technology to speculate on future scenarios.
What is Design Fiction?
Some Examples
Envisioning some eventualities that would provoke people to consider what may happen in the future
IKEA Catalog from the Near Future
Black Mirror
Timeline
Revising the toolkit
2 Codesign sessions
Analysis
Presentation
Pilot
Revising the plan
Recruitment
Exploring different possibilities for research
APRIL
MARCH
FEBRUARY
JANUARY
Planning
Survey
Designing the toolkit
Analysis
Assisted in creation of the co-design toolkit.
Informed the creation and development of utopian/dystopian scenarios, inspired by a renowned design fiction method.
Rent
Safety
Green spaces
Sense of community
Apartment search approaches
Condition of
a place
Quiet
Care for residents
Transportation
Pilot
Groups mapped out a day's journey (weekday or weekend), reflecting their emotions and using the cards for inspiration.
Utopian, dystopian, and tech cards were randomly selected by the groups.
Each group was guided to choose either more utopian or more dystopian cards.
Pilot session
Utopian, dystopian, and tech cards
Mapping a character's day in life using the cards
Changes Made
Added:
Icebreaker homework
Making their own utopia/dystopia cards
A character sheet
Removed:
Number of cards handed out
Design Workshop
STEP 1: Observe your surroundings
Take photos of things/experience you like or dislike in your house or apartment before the co-design session
STEP 2: Card creation
Write down desires and fears of living off-campus
STEP 3: Create their future stories
With the cards they created and additional cards from us, participants create a story of off-campus living in the future
Toolkit Assets
Participants
Workshops Outcomes
Character sheet
Journey map with emotions
Utopian, dystopian, and technlogy cards
April 8th
April 10th
3 undergraduate students
2 graduate student
+
1 undergraduate student
3 graduate students
STORY 1:
Inconvenient Convenience
Year: 2046
STORY 2:
United World Government
Year: 2080
STORY 3:
Club Errth
Year: 2121
Analyzing the stories revealed key desires and struggles students have about the future. While they generally portray satisfaction with their living conditions, this is largely because they've adapted to challenges like taking part-time jobs to afford rent, dealing with unstable housing, and sharing space with multiple roommates.
Analysis
Combining Future Stories
Social Community
City Systems/Infrastructures
Personal Space
Nature/Natural Disasters
Government Surveillance
Finances
Community Maintenance
No stable living conditions
1-2 roommates
Mandatory job
Living is decentralized
Government instability
Necessary social connection
3D printed food
One government
Loneliness
Low rent
Not happy in apartment
May Mallahzadeh ⏤ 2024
Our team combined the three group stories into one, using simple graphics to represent an exaggerated yet relatable future of studying and living off-campus. The goal was to have the audience view it from a third-person perspective, drawing parallels to our current reality, and sparking discussion on the need to improve student living conditions.
Result
In the year 2040, jobs are offered to students alongside with course credits, free housing, and on-site job experience. There will be no pay but it does not matter as long as they can study without having to worry about pay!
“
“
In the year 2050, green spaces are cleared for factories and there are very little spaces for people to live. Students are assigned living spaces based on their departments and “unpractical” majors are treated poorly.
“
“
Read the full story
Reflection
The story reflects a negative view of the future but showcases that even in terrible situations, people still find good things in their everyday lives.
It highlights people's current fears for the future, including isolated living conditions, extreme weather, and government instability.
The story creates space for discussion about current problems and emphasizes that we shouldn’t just accept whatever situation we’re in, but should actively work toward making changes.
Lessons Learned
Participants enjoyed imagining future scenarios.
Participant Engagement
The cards effectively provoked thought and helped participants create imaginative worlds.
Effective Provocation
Pilot testing was essential in identifying needed changes in our study.
Pilot Refinement
When combined, co-design and design fiction generate valuable insights, although the initial process of merging these methods was challenging.
Co-Design + Design Fictions
Potential Next Steps
Present the story to stakeholders, gather feedback, and assess emotional reactions.
Analyze stakeholder responses to understand their perspectives and connect these insights to current real-world scenarios, identifying opportunities for improvement and potential areas of focus.