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PHYSICAL PROTOTYPING FOR CULTURALLY SUSTAINING COMPUTATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GATHER?

Gathering invites physical prototyping as an important mechanism in developing culturally sustaining technologies. Gathering is inspired by “Hui,” an ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Hawaiian language word translated as: to band together, assemble, organize. Our work has implications for how we design new forms of technology toward more equitable futures, especially by making visible decision making and sensemaking that occurs throughout the design process.

These characteristics help us not only define it but also learn how to enact and embody it. Similar to other partnership-based or community-based design processes, insights are meant to transcend the entire design process.

  • THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING IN-PERSON

    Being in-person allows for:

    • Being present

    • Sharing cultural protocols

    • Supporting indirect communication

    • Sharing meals

  • THE VALUE OF PHYSICAL PROTOTYPING

    Physical prototyping allows for:

    • Inviting participation and using objects to think with

    • Making thinking visible

    • Making decisions visible

    • Inviting transparency

  • IDENTIFYING SHARED VALUES:

    • Shared values guide everything

    • Design iteration revisits the values

      • “How does this design decision reflect the values?”

    CENTERING PEOPLE OVER PROCESS:

    • No such thing as on task v. off task

    • Embracing play as core to design

  • GATHER REQUIRES TIME AND SPACE FOR (W)HOLISM:

    • Shaped by silence (more than discussion of ideas)

    • Shaped by reflection (more than progress)

    • Invites “productive discomfort”

    • Everything is fluid

  • MAKING DESIGN DECISIONS VISIBLE ALLOWS FOR IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS:

    Gathering is successful when:

    • Tension yields greater insight

    • Disagreement yields profound conversations

READ OUR ARTICLE BELOW

The Braiding Knowledge Project is a collaboration between Utah State University and the University of Utah.

This material was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Spencer Foundation (#202200170). The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Spencer Foundation.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Nos. #2119573 and #2119630. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.