Disruption by design: Kate Canales at TEDxSMU

Summary

In this talk, the speaker, a designer, explores the concept of 'disruption by design,' emphasizing that design is not just about creating objects but about influencing behavior. She shares examples of everyday disruptions, from makeshift solutions to signs guiding behavior, highlighting human adaptability. The speaker advocates for using design to intentionally create positive change, from personal habits to broader societal issues, suggesting that we are all designers capable of initiating meaningful disruption.

Takeaways

• 🔨 Disruption can be something that happens to you, comes at you, or something you create intentionally, known as 'disruption by design'.
• 🎨 Traditionally, design is about the physical object, but in the context of disruption by design, it's about designing behavior change.
• 👀 As a designer, spending time in the field is crucial to understand how a design will behave and perform in its context.
• 📸 Observation and documentation through photography help identify opportunities for behavior change and design interventions.
• 🤝 Humans are adept at making things work, even with makeshift solutions like using a safety pin to fix glasses.
• 📦 Simple objects can signal behavior change, such as cardboard boxes indicating not to scrape a car's bumpers.
• 👥 We are good at signaling to others how we want them to adapt their behavior, like using headphones to signal 'do not disturb'.
• 🚦 Signs and signals are everywhere, guiding our behavior in various situations, often without us realizing it.
• 🍎 Objects can be used to facilitate personal behavior change, like keeping apples on a desk to avoid seeking unhealthy snacks.
• 🌐 The concept of the 'transitional object' from psychology can be applied in design to help people navigate behavioral shifts.
• 🌟 Design can be used at scale to address larger societal issues, like curbing speeding with feedback signs or managing the HIV epidemic with accessible testing.

Q & A

What does the speaker believe about everyone in the room?

The speaker believes that everyone in the room is a designer, even if they might not use that term for it.

What is the theme of the talk?

The theme of the talk is 'disruption,' which can refer to something that happens to you, comes at you, or something you create.

What is 'disruption by design' according to the speaker?

'Disruption by design' refers to the intentional creation of changes, particularly in behavior, through design.

How does the speaker define design in the context of behavior change?

In the context of behavior change, design is not just about the physical object but about what the object makes people do.

What does the speaker do when working in the field?

When working in the field, the speaker spends time observing the context of the object being designed, taking pictures, and looking for opportunities for behavior change.

What universal truth about humans does the speaker claim?

The speaker claims that humans are very good at making things work, often finding workarounds and adapting to situations.

What examples does the speaker provide of human adaptability?

Examples include using a safety pin to fix glasses, a woman using a plastic bag to protect her camera from rain, and people finding places to plug in electronics at airports.

How do humans signal to each other about behavior adaptation?

Humans signal behavior adaptation through various means, such as using cardboard boxes to protect car bumpers or wearing headphones to indicate a desire not to be disturbed.

What is a 'transitional object' in psychology?

A 'transitional object' in psychology is an object, like a child's blankie or teddy bear, that helps navigate a psychological shift, such as moving from attachment to the mother to becoming an individual.

How can the concept of a transitional object be applied to design?

The concept of a transitional object can be applied to design by intentionally creating objects that prompt behavior change, helping people navigate shifts in their behavior or habits.

What is the speaker's final suggestion for how we should approach design?

The speaker suggests that we should 'design the change' or 'design the disruption' we wish to see in the world, implying that design can be a powerful tool for creating positive change.