This paper discusses a pilot study into whether the introduction of the concept of the
‘Other’ (after Said 1991) is useful in broadening the conceptual understanding and
empathy of first year industrial design students and thus move them away from a position of
an ‘I methodology’ of design.
The concept was introduced via a lecture delivered to Coventry University students and
impact was measured by the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis 1980).
A research group (who received the lecture) and a control group (who did not) completed
the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) over a three-week period. Students were also
tasked with choosing a ‘persona’ most like themselves from specially developed ‘persona’
cards.
Analysis showed that although the students scored more highly on three IRI subscales in
terms of averages, a mean score analysis produced inconclusive results. However, there
were indications that the concept of the ‘Other’ did have an impact on the research group
in terms of persona card choices, in that this group was more likely to step outside gender
boundaries.
Therefore the findings from this pilot study proved inconclusive in determining whether the
concept of the ‘Other’ had a positive impact on design students’ conceptual understanding
and empathy towards the end user, and thus it is not possible to assess whether it can
enhance their ability to move away from a position of ‘I methodology’ design.
Nonetheless, the pilot study did highlight the need for a more rigorous research framework,
in that more emphasis is needed to both develop the concept of empathy as it pertains to
design students and, perhaps, the concomitant development of a ‘bespoke’ measurement
tool, coupled with a more targeted approach to student participation.
DRS 2012 Bangkok
