Building the Capacity for Community Engagement

My final artifact for DMGT 740 Sustainable Practices in Design was designing a tool kit. My idea for designing a toolkit for community engagement aims to provide professionals and communities with a means to support community participation. It recognizes that an effective community engagement strategy is critical to build relationships and to encourage the community to contribute to mutually acceptable solutions. In approaching my idea, I will not provide answers as to how community engagement can be carried out effectively. Instead, I will develop a toolkit for community engagement that consists of a flexible portfolio of techniques that can be used or adapted in a particular situation. The toolkit will provide practical information and resources that will be useful for working with communities. It will also include many suggestions for effective ways to work with communities and useful information concerning methods of techniques of engagement. Each will be briefly describe, how best to use it and in what situations it would be appropriate to use.

My interest in the whole notion of social design made me think of how to better improve the way we engage with communities and how to collaborate and create a mutually beneficial relationship with the community. It bears in mind that the ability to engage the community in meaningful and culturally appropriate ways is of critical importance. The proposed project idea is based on the contention that engaging the community can contributes toward building “social capital” –social networks and support system- which is associated with better and more sustainable communities.

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Postmodern City

Postmodernism

To talk about postmodernism is to talk about the problem of objective truth. Postmodernism as a movement can be understood as cultural projects or as a set of perspectives. The term “postmodernism” comes from its critique of the “modernist” scientific mentality of objectivity and progress associated with the Enlightenment. Postmodernists believe that many, if not all realities are only social constructs, as they are subject to changing in time and place. They emphasizes the role of language, power relations, and motivations. Postmodernists also attack the use of sharp classifications. Rather, they view reality to be relative, and dependent on who the interested parties are and what their interests consist in.

Atlanta: Place in the non-place urban realm

An example of post modern city we learn in the reading of “Theorizing The City” is The city of Atlanta. The reading talked about the role of power elite in designing and planning the landscape and how their ideology could be realized through what they termed “ the renovation of the public character of the city”. The 90s was significant in Atlanta to the host the 1996 Olympic games which was seen as an opportunity for redevelopment of central and its surrounding depressed residential neighborhood. The responsibility for creating a meaningful Olympic legacy fell between  the city government and the business community. Two entities that in the past enjoyed a close working relationship described as a marriage of white money and black political power in the south.

Through generations of profit minded visionaries have transformed a once rail road hub into a world class postindustrial metropolis. The city official slogan evolves from gate city and capital of the new south to major league and national city that’s too busy to hate to world’s most great international city. I like the way the chapter presented a historical perspective on the character of the urban population who occupied the city. Massive white flight. They made two thirds of the city population. In the 70s the white population made less than half. In the 80s two thirds of the city’s population was African American. During the 70s and 80s the suburban expanded to include african american middle class as well as the african american poor. The year 1990 is significant in Atlanta to the host the 1996 Olympic games which was seen as an opportunity for redevelopment of central and its surrounding  ring of depressed residential neighborhood. The responsibility for creating a meaningful Olympic legacy fell between  the city government and the business community. Two entities that in the past enjoyed a close working relationship described as a marriage of white money and black political power.

Their vision of transforming the city is centered around safe, clean, and user friendly city. They only sell the clean look and feel rather than the realties of the urban lifestyle. These are examples of the contemporary paradigm of urban renewal that privileges the artful design of secure, simulated, and re-segregated environments over the articulation of plans for dealing with uneven development, homelessness, poverty, crime and unemployment in the city as a whole.

User friendly city

I like the way he explains the underlying structure of the term user friendly cities:

1.The term is most used in the filed of computer where it refers to an interface carefully designed not to intimidate or confuse the user. What makes the interface friendly is that all the potentially problematic and complicated choices have been worked out for the user in a simple, persuasive, and clear way. User friendliness has tendency to program out certain kinds of knowledge. It constrain choices and assumes a certain standardization of human needs and experiences. The notion of user friendlessness also assume that all users have the same identities or that certain groups such as poor are excluded from the category of desired users.

2.Describing the urban population as users rather than residents or citizens imply that the city is more oriented toward visitors than residents or rather that the line between them is no longer significant, that even natives are strangers who need guides.

Increasing the level of Cultural Participation among Multicultural Groups: Research Proposal

Summary of research proposal

Expanding the capacity to increase cultural participation is not a new issue but its interconnection in the context of globalization is presenting complex challenges to arts and cultural organizations.  The research will focus on the multi-ethnic residents who live and work in the city’s diverse communities. Unlink existing models, this proposal views cultural diversity not as a problem to be controlled by top-down policies, but as an asset for the development of the local community. In view of that, our research hypothesizes that engaging multi-ethnic populations will more likely foster “cultural equity” as prerequisite for increasing public participation in cultural activities. The study will address different factors affecting the individual’s participation including:

1.Background, including socio-demographic and socio-cultural factors and past experience;

2.Perceptual, including personal beliefs and perceptions of social norms that lead to attitudes toward arts participation;

3.Practical, including factors that affect an individual’s intention or decision to participate;

Research questions

1.How people from different multicultural groups live in communities use the arts and other forms of creative effort to express their attachment to places?

2.What are the motivations behind individuals’ involvement in the arts?

3.Why some forms of participation are more popular than others?

4.Why do they participate in different ways? And why do they choose specific types of arts?

5.What are the community’s cultural resources and assets?

6.What shared cultural values support that community and its way of life?

Data collection methods:

1.User-Research – consists of observations targeted at understanding the end user. Unlike participatory observation, this method suggests a more detached perspective and more focused.

2.Secondary Research: Analysis of the existing manuscripts, including social and cultural research targeted at understanding the forces that affect the research topic. Usually, this involves some form of content analysis.

3.Photo/video ethnography – consists of video tapping or photographing specific activities in the user’s life.

4.In-depth interviews – informally interviewing the user in their environment.

5.Online survey – web-based survey instrument such as Zoomerang.

[Research Development Framework –Adapted from Charles Bezerra (2005) .Building Innovative Competencies]

Perceived benefits of the study

Findings from the research can be helpful in terms of suggesting initiatives that complement the existing arts and cultural infrastructure. By gaining a better understanding the complex factors affecting individual’s participation, the study will suggest how arts organizations can develop more targeted and, therefore, more effective strategies for encouraging participation.

[Benefits from the Arts Experience]

Adapted from Gifts of the Muse. RAND Corporation

Visualizing Collaborative Communication Networks

The research was a virtual collaboration project with students form Information Systems Department at the University of Cologne. The project led by Peter A. Gloor, a Research Scientist at the Center for Collective Intelligence at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT.

Purpose:

The central motivation for the study was to identify collaborative networks within and between SCAD’s Schools of Design, and with external partners. 

Questions:

1.What communication and collaboration patterns are identifiable within the School of Design at SCAD?

2.How transparent is collaboration and communication between individuals, departments and external entities?

3.To what extent are collaboration networks reflected among individuals, departments and external entities within the School of Design?

4.What are the major obstacles facing collaborative communication among different individuals, department and external entities within the School of Design?

Method and Data Collection

1.Social Network Analysis Tool (Condor)

2.Online Survey (Zoomerang)

3.Face to face interview

4.WORDiJ Software

5.SQL-Dumps as a base for the visualization

Reflections and lessons learned

•We were supposed to visualize & analyze communication data from SCAD, but we have never had access to such data.

•We had to use a dummy-mailbox as a temporary solution for getting any data at all.

•Technical challenges to analyze real data from SCAD to answer research questions

•IT-Department not providing us with SCAD data because of privacy issues

•We could not implement most of our ideas; those we could implement were very time-consuming.

•We underestimated the language barrier.

Screenshots of Visualization Application used in the research porject

Towards Designing Socially Inclusive Public Art Initiatives

One the most valuable lesson I have learned in design management program is to think in terms of interdisciplinary collaboration and integration and, creating the link between the different or dissimilar elements. And most importantly, making that connection visible, at least mentally. When I started thinking about an idea for my thesis project, I was actually trying to make the connection between my non-design background in social and human capital development and my current situation as a grad student in design school.  The following shed light on some of my initial thoughts of my research related to the social impact of art and culture on society.

Outcomes of Art

There is a repeated claim in the literature that participating in art and cultural works can contribute to a range of positive outcomes. This diagram represents the potential impacts of the art on three levels:

1. On community level, arts are said to build social cohesion and foster civic engagement by boosting individuals’ ability and motivation to be civically engaged in the community.
2. Economic impacts are perhaps the most tangible benefits of the arts.  The potential economic outcomes of arts in society are that arts attract visitors and also investments. By improving a community’s image, people may feel more confident about investing in that community.
3. On individual level, arts have potential to improve health, mental, and psychological well-being, cognitive functioning, and creative ability.

The Relationships

In my research, I’m looking at the relationship between public art and social inclusion. And as a researcher, I believe that public art is more than just an art placed outside in public. Public art signifies a particular innovation practice, emphasizing on community involvement, social networking and creative collaboration.  It is an art which has its goal desire to engage with its audiences and to create spaces that reflects identity of the community and its people.

The potential role of public art lie on the fact that “taking part” in the arts can be done actively, as artist, or passively as audience. And secondly, because public art often work with themes that contain meanings and symbols, participation in the arts has more appeal than some traditional forms of personal and community development. It is likely to be enjoyable as well as valuable.

Research Goals

The intention of my proposal beyond just exploring the relationship between public art and the notion of social inclusion, is to understand how strategic design management can help create strategic and long-term vision and planning that enable public art programs to interact with the local community, address its needs, and most importantly understand the end user.

Design Management Approach

The following diagram I’m trying to show the overlapping relationships in design management approach: strategic, tactical, and operational.

1.Designing at the strategic level, the vision and agendas are defined – and it is to these agendas that design must connect.

2.Designing at the tactical level, the processes and functions come into play.

3.And finally, at the operational level, design manifests itself in a tangible artifact product. (in this case this artifact is a model for community art and cultural plan).

Bearing in mind the three levels of design management approach, this research investigation will involve: designing strategic vision, ensuring the design process and procedures of design are adding value to current practices in art and cultural organizations. And finally deliver content of the design solution.

Significance: The outcome of the project will be a model for building the capacity to design a “socially inclusive” public art from vision, to process to concept. And where design management is applied there is often a strong belief in the potential to gain competitive advantage by design. As a result, design thinking as a mental concept will becomes integrated in the corporate cultural of public art.

Research Questions

Based on the overall goal of the project, the proposal explores the following research questions:

1. What is the interplay between designing for public art and social inclusion?
2. How people use the arts and other forms of creative effort to express their attachment to places?
3. What are the new approaches, tools and competencies needed for designing socially inclusive public art initiatives?
4. What are the design implications and opportunities for using public art as strategic tool to address social issues?

Research Strategy

It is proposed that the research investigation will take four directions:

•Looking backwards – to have a historical perspective in arts and cultural participation.

•Looking ahead – to create future scenarios and explore the possible design opportunities.

•Looking sideways – to understand what else is happing based on other best practices, and to identify the forces that affect the research themes.

•Looking at people – to better know the end user, and to capture attitudes, needs, and desires.

Regional Industry Cluster: Articulating a Vision

This project was part of DMGT 765 Business and Design Practicum. The course presented with case studies and situational projects that emphasize the analysis of business practice pertaining to the design of products and visual communications.

Context

Savannah is experiencing a rapidly growing—and evolving—economy. And this exciting change means opportunity for businesses relocating to or expanding in Savannah. The Savannah area, located in coastal Chatham County, Georgia, boasts a flourishing economy balanced on a strong foundation that includes a thriving port, increasing tourism, a stabilizing manufacturing sector and significant military presence.

The following information provides an introduction to field research within key stakeholder organizations in a regional area that includes Chatham, Liberty, Bryan, and Effingham counties from January through March 2009. The goal of this research phase was to understand how the key stakeholders envision the industry cluster concept, specifically as it relates to a regional materials-related industry cluster. Findings were be used to better understand the local investment climate and potential support for a regional industry cluster. The project was designed to be accomplished in several phases.

In phase I, an initial scan and stakeholder assessment was conducted to indentify key challenges and opportunities for articulating a vision for a regional materials related industry cluster. The phase I comprised a series of in-person interviews with key stakeholders in the region. The goal of conducting the interviews was to understand how the key stakeholders envision the industry cluster concept. The semi-structured interviews were primarily guided by the following questions:

1.What is their understanding of the concept of industry clusters?

2.What role do you believe Herty will play in this cluster?

3.Who are the key stakeholders – both individuals and organizations – that will move this initiative forward?

4.What role would key stakeholders play? What contributions might they make?

5.What are the major obstacles to seeing a regional industry cluster become a reality?

Festivals: A Look at Perceived Social Impacts of Cultural Events

This summarizes my final project for DMGT 775 Idea Management in Business. My research concept investigated festival organizers’ perceptions of the social impacts of their events on local communities. Information gathered from three festivals were used to capture these impacts. Findings showed that festivals provide a cultural opportunity not usually available in the community. These events also provide showcase for various local cultural groups and artists. Given the social and cultural impacts of many of these events along with its potential to serve as social platform for community engagement, it is evident that further research efforts are needed in this area.

The increasing popularity of festivals together with their potential positive impacts in host communities, has led to a growing body of research on the impacts of festivals and events. The economic implications associated with festivals and special events are substantial, yet their social implications may be even more profound. Unfortunately, much research has focused on assessing the economic impact or success of festivals, with only limited attention to the social context of those events. The purpose of this research was to explore the festival organizers’ perceptions of the social impacts of festivals, and seek insights for design management as regards to what community engagement means in terms of sustainable practice of planning and managing festivals and cultural events.

FestivalsA Look at Perceived Social Impacts of Cultural Events

Popular Culture and the City at Universiteit van Amsterdam

The Summer Institute of the University of Amsterdam, UvA was particularly appealing to me because it provides opportunities for diverse point of views to collaborate and create to new knowledge. In addition to the attraction of city of Amsterdam as a Mecca of social and cultural distinction, the content and the methodology of delivering ‘Popular Culture and the City’ program interests me intellectually because it will provide the conceptual frameworks contributing to an understanding of culture and identity at a time of social change. More importantly, the program offered a unique experiential learning opportunity which enhanced my understanding of the notion of cosmopolitanism, along with other related key issues, e.g., ethnic diversity and creative narratives of cultural identity.

The Popular Culture and the City program examined theories and concepts on media, entertainment and popular culture in an urban setting and explained the different research methods used in media, cultural and urban studies. Discuss centered on how city life is represented in popular culture and how popular culture forms urban life. My participation in this course provided me with valuable insights as to how the visual representation of popular culture influences everyday reality. My final project addressed the relationships between arts and diverse communities in the city from social inclusion perspective. The purpose was to achieve deep understanding of social inclusion as necessary concept to  maximize the community’s capacity for arts , cultural and recreational participation.

Holistic Systematic Approach: A Framework For Designing Strategic Scenarios

This project was my final deliverable in DMGT 783 Design Futures: Trends, Foresight and Intuition. The course introduced the nature of trends, their verifiable causes, consequences, and implications. Through a series of projects and case studies, i have developed the thinking skills in identifying and framing trends that affect the design. The followings highlight main points i delivered in the final presentation.

Scenario Building

References such as The Scenario Building Handbook andThe Art of the Longview provide a basic structure forlearning to build scenarios. The linearity of identifyingtopics, translating them into forces and drivers,developing clusters, and then using matrices ofcertainty and uncertainty to plot scenarios is fool-proof, but we felt it was not an accurate representation ofreality. Our proposed scenario building tool utilizesthese same key factors, but places them on a dynamiccontinuum that illustrates the importance of unforeseen elements. 

As in any design research process, knowledge in theform of models and theories from behavioral sciencemust be integrated into the early part of design inquiry.We started by considering theory of motivation and thehierarchy of needs developed by Abraham Maslow. Weconsidered this theory because it offers someexplanation of people’s relative prioritization ofeconomic and community concerns. 

Maslow’s theory ofmotivation (1970), for example, describes a hierarchy ofneeds in which economic satisfaction could beconsidered a more basic need associated with survival,while community well-being and environmentalconcerns are higher needs related to association andthe quality of life. Applied to a society, it would suggesta similar hierarchy for collective concerns.

In social design, the ultimate goal of any design is toimprove the well being of individuals and the community. Within this in mind, our approach was attentive to build scenarios that focuses on meetingcommunity needs and responding to threats. In sodoing, we incorporated the conception of communitywell-being.

Understanding Social Ecology

The value of this concept can only be realized if it comesto be understood as inclusive of each of the followingthree focal areas, and of the complex relationshipsbetween them:People: individuals, families, groups, small businesses(including relationships)Socio-cultural institutional structures and processes:including pol i tics, social services, economics,corporations, religions, education, technology, mediaNature: environmental and ecological aspects.

Social Networks and Support Systems

Context shapes these relationships and is understood asa complex, dynamic set of factors, including socialcontext (social networks and support systems),historical context, cultural context, and institutional context.

Capitals in a Social Ecosystem

From a social ecology perspective, community’secosystem embraces hard infrastructure and softinfrastructure, which are represented by a dynamiccomplex of both fundamental and mobilized assets.It includes a full range of capitals from physicalinfrastructure, natural, economic to social, human andpolitical capitals.Mobilizing assets if not activated to address a particularproblem, remain foundational assets. Thus, they appearin both places in the diagram.Mobilizing assets, at whatever level (either soft or hardinfrastructure), contribute to the on-going process andstructure of community life, but also exist as attributesor conditions that can be called upon when thecommunity needs to respond to internal and externalstresses (threats).The dynamic between mobilized assets and fundamentalassets create the context for the scenario exercise.

Explanation of Framework

The framework is useful because it articulates all of thefactors that evoke the capacity of community’s wellbeing.The factors in the framework can be used in agenerative manner to determine the selection of futurescenarios for understanding current situations in Haitiand generating new ideas for design to change thatsituation. In conclusion, our approach provides a biggerpicture for developing a holistic and integrated model. Collectively, the constructs provide a framework withinwhich we defined the objectives and focused on specificaspects of community life. The constructs were used inreviewing other scenarios in various human, social,cultural, education and physical dimensions ofcommunity life.

Projects

Cultural Mapping: A Participatory Design Approach for Visualizing the Cultural Assets of the City. A thesis Presented to the Savannah College of Art and Design.

My exploratory design concept for an online cultural mapping was an effort to make cultural resource information broadly available for an educational experience, in which the end users can discover the wide range and the diversity of resources in the community. The research has implications for the community planning process and building the foundation for collaboration with the outside resources.

The culmination of my thesis project on cultural mapping centered around the power of assets mapping. Cultural mapping encourages the use of capacity-focused as an alternative approach to visualizing the assets in the community. This approach includes individual capacities and organizational capacities such as citizen associations and cultural and communications organizations.

Visiting CreatHere, Chattanooga, TN

In line with our philosophy of sharing our vision and passion for creating a collaborative innovation networks in the region we introduced ourselves to similar design thinkers in the region and learn about other organizations who share similar vision and inspirations for change. The purpose of our visit to CreatHere was basically to share, learn and discover.

The site visit was great learning experience. During the visit we talked about our experiences concerning working with a Global Virtual project team for the COINs class with SCAD. We also shared our vision to meet community’s vision and goals as well as our approach to help communities transform their assets into innovative solutions.

Our discussion with Helen Johnson, Co-founder of CreatHere was extremely thorough in explaining the different projects and programs that were initiated by CreatHere. We also met with some team members in CreatHere who truly understand community as field for design and innovation so well. The experience was extremely helpful to us in learning about other models.

Cultural Mapping Project: Dalton City Council

The purpose of the visit was to share and present the finding from the cultural mapping of Dalton that was carried out between May – August 2011. Saad presented the summary of the findings and demonstrated selected samples of digital mappings that were generated from visualizing the cultural resources in the community. The presentation was carried out during Dalton Mayor and Council Meeting.

The presentation covered the initial steps toward mapping the existing cultural resources in the community based on the local knowledge through using multiple tools that combine quantitative and qualitative methods. The presentation covered creative city planning framework based on three broad areas including place, economy, and culture. The presentation also provided a synopsis of a design concept for a web-based platform for participatory cultural mapping capable of promoting public participation and engagement.

By the end of the presentation Saad acknowledged all the different people in the city of Dalton who have participated in the project. He especially thanked Mr. Ty Ross, Dalton City Administrator for his collaborative efforts and support throughout the entire process.

Sharing the results of the project with community stakeholders was a great learning experience. The presentation received positive feedback from the attendees and attention from Dalton local press. The study was also shared with Dalton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for their feedback.

Exploring the Strategic Value of Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Visual Model submitted for research and industry poster session presentation at the COINs 2010 Conference, Oct 7-9, 2010, hosted at the Savannah College of Art and Design. The purpose of the model was to propose an approach that integrates design thinking, the business model Canvas, and collaborative innovation networks to visualize a model that leverages the internal relationships as well as external networks to meet strategic business goals. Click here to view the poster.

Design Approach and Expertise

Design Approach

As design strategist I take advantage of my knowledge and appreciation for ethnographic research. I also use meta-design approach and multiple lenses to understand the big picture and to address what so-called ”wicked problems and social complexity.” I also consider innovative solutions scheme by focusing on people’s needs and desirability by designing systems and services capable of responding to human needs.

My collaborative design approach begins with an assessment analysis of each community under study. The method I use to explore problem solving involves contextual research with validation and iteration phases. I then synthesize these unique characteristics with broader criteria for economic, technological and social innovations.For each project, I collaborate with the design partners to create a design framework built upon clearly identified phases. This framework establishes the project’s direction and serves as a reference point throughout the project. The periodic evaluation of the outcomes ensures continuous growth and development. Finally, I use these findings plus the negative feedback loops to provide insights for necessary changes and modifications.

Design Expertise

• Conceptualizing creative design concepts
• Participatory design research and mapping
• Instruction design and curriculum planning
• Knowledge and idea visualization
• Design management
• Contextual research
• Process mapping and assessment
• Social design and community innovation
• Public participation and engagement strategy

To carry out a contextual research I integrate the many tools and techniques used in both the design world and the business world. The methodology incorporates empathy and deep user understanding, concept visualization and prototyping, and strategic business design. The design research process, as described by Thomas Lockwood, is not a linear process, but rather a framework for iteration that knits together user needs, powerful ideas, and enterprise success.

Biographical Sketch

Autobiography

Saad Aqeel Alzarooni is passionate social designer and ethnographic researcher. His research interests fall mainly into two categories: collaborative community assets mapping, and applied knowledge modelings for planning and evaluation. His recent publications include “Exploring the Strategic Value of Interdisciplinary Collaboration” and “Learning to Collaborate in Collaborative Innovation Networks”.

Source of Inspirations

Saad is about truing soft data into strategic insights for innovations. He blends his educational background in sociology and community development to feed into his design thinking, concepts and solutions. Saad’s goal is to help individuals, groups, and communities visualize their assets and guide them to realize their goals.

Goal and Objectives

As Saad continues his learning journey, he is beginning to explore the range of opportunities in design research and thinking for community renewal and innovation.

Education

• M.F.A in Design Management –School of Design. SCAD
• M.S. in Social Administration - MSASS-Case Western Reserve University
• Popular Culture and the City Program- GSSS-University of Amsterdam
• B.A. in Sociology Emirates University

Additional Training

• Certificate Program in People Management - American Management Association
• Certificate Program in Building Management Skills - Management Center Europe

Work Experience

Saad’s professional career has spanned diverse work environments. Despite the diversity of work environments, he has been consistently successful in improving results through strengthening learning and coaching function in organizations.

• Manager/Career Development and Research at Etisalat Academy. Duties include: Mapping career strategy and designing leadership and talent development programs. (2003-2007).
• Research Analyst at ECSSR. Duties include: Studying, through methodological means, contemporary social and economic issues and determining their implications for the society. (2002 – 2003).
• Teaching/Research Assistant at UAEU Duties include: Lecturing and Fieldwork Advising. Received Graduate Teaching/Research Assistant Scholarship Award in social policy analysis and planning. (1996-2001).

Awards

• Sheikh Rashid Award for Academic Excellence. Years: 1995 and 2000 .
• Mandel School Excellence in Leadership Award. 2000. Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences. Excellence in Leadership and Inter-cultural Connections
• Al-Owais Award for Studies and Scientific Innovation. Years: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2003. Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation-Dubai-UAE.

Links

http://contextualresearch.wordpress.com/
http://independent.academia.edu/SAADAQUEELZ
http://saadaqeelalzarooni.wordpress.com/
http://issuu.com/saadaqeel