Stop designing WITH your users! There is a better way. / Sloan Leo Cowan / Ep. #217
DEC 19, 202460 MIN
Stop designing WITH your users! There is a better way. / Sloan Leo Cowan / Ep. #217
DEC 19, 202460 MIN
Description
<p>There's a problem with the current design process that often goes unnoticed...</p>
<p>A problem that can lead to less-than-ideal outcomes or, even worse, harm certain communities.</p>
<p>To understand this, we must acknowledge our huge responsibility as design professionals. We're often the only ones advocating for our users' needs, the voice of those who aren't in the room. </p>
<p>It's a privilege we shouldn't take lightly.</p>
<p>We make decisions, and judgment calls for the people we're designing for. Of course, we do our best with the best intentions, but we always will fall short. </p>
<p>Why? Because we aren't the users. We don't live their lives or experience their struggles.</p>
<p>Sure, let there be no doubt: having someone advocate for users is a good start, but it's not enough. </p>
<p>We can do better; we must do better. </p>
<p>Our guest, Sloan Leo Cowan, helps us see what "better" looks like. </p>
<p>The key is to move away from "designing for" or even "designing with" users and move towards "designing by" them. It means giving up control and power. Sound impossible? </p>
<p>Sloan Leo shares practical examples of how they've achieved this in their work.</p>
<p>This episode will show you a way forward if you care about creating more inclusive and equitable work.</p>
<p>Stop designing WITH your users! There is a better way. </p>
<p>As you'll hear, Sloan Leo's perspective on design challenges the status quo. We really need this to push the boundaries of design and ensure it stays relevant.</p>
<p>Keep making a positive impact!</p>
<p>Take care, </p>
<p>~ Marc</p>
<p>--- [ 1. GUIDE ] --- </p>
<p>00:00 Welcome to Episode 217</p>
<p>04:00 Sloan's social sector journey</p>
<p>08:15 Defining Community?</p>
<p>10:15 Service design "habits" (issues)</p>
<p>12:45 Neutrality in Interpretation</p>
<p>15:15 Facilitator vs. Interpreter Roles</p>
<p>18:45 Facilitating towards beliefs</p>
<p>19:30 Power Dynamics in Facilitation</p>
<p>21:15 Binary thinking in service design</p>
<p>26:45 Issue: Persona Development & Gender</p>
<p>31:45 Origins of Community Design Issues</p>
<p>36:00 How to approach the large scale</p>
<p>38:15 Open source approach</p>
<p>40:30 The challenges for service designers</p>
<p>41:45 Benefits for Communities and Designers </p>
<p>43:45 Advice for Aspiring Designers</p>
<p>47:15 Recommended Resources</p>
<p>51:45 Proudest Achievements</p>
<p>54:15 Keys to Success</p>
<p>56:45 Additional Resources</p>
<p>57:30 Questions for Reflection</p>
<p>--- [ 2. LINKS ] --- </p>
<p><em> Pronouns they/he</em></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sloanleo" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.linkedin.com/in/sloanleo</a></li>
<li>Website - <a href="floxstudio.com " target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">floxstudio.com </a>or <a href="sloanleo.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">sloanleo.com</a></li>
</ul>
<p>--- [ 3. CIRCLE ] --- </p>
<p>Join our private community for in-house service design professionals. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.servicedesignshow.com/circle/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode_description&utm_id=ep217&utm_content=v2" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://servicedesignshow.com/circle</a></p>
![<p>There's a problem with the current design process that often goes unnoticed...</p>
<p>A problem that can lead to less-than-ideal outcomes or, even worse, harm certain communities.</p>
<p>To understand this, we must acknowledge our huge responsibility as design professionals. We're often the only ones advocating for our users' needs, the voice of those who aren't in the room. </p>
<p>It's a privilege we shouldn't take lightly.</p>
<p>We make decisions, and judgment calls for the people we're designing for. Of course, we do our best with the best intentions, but we always will fall short. </p>
<p>Why? Because we aren't the users. We don't live their lives or experience their struggles.</p>
<p>Sure, let there be no doubt: having someone advocate for users is a good start, but it's not enough. </p>
<p>We can do better; we must do better. </p>
<p>Our guest, Sloan Leo Cowan, helps us see what "better" looks like. </p>
<p>The key is to move away from "designing for" or even "designing with" users and move towards "designing by" them. It means giving up control and power. Sound impossible? </p>
<p>Sloan Leo shares practical examples of how they've achieved this in their work.</p>
<p>This episode will show you a way forward if you care about creating more inclusive and equitable work.</p>
<p>Stop designing WITH your users! There is a better way. </p>
<p>As you'll hear, Sloan Leo's perspective on design challenges the status quo. We really need this to push the boundaries of design and ensure it stays relevant.</p>
<p>Keep making a positive impact!</p>
<p>Take care, </p>
<p>~ Marc</p>
<p>--- [ 1. GUIDE ] --- </p>
<p>00:00 Welcome to Episode 217</p>
<p>04:00 Sloan's social sector journey</p>
<p>08:15 Defining Community?</p>
<p>10:15 Service design "habits" (issues)</p>
<p>12:45 Neutrality in Interpretation</p>
<p>15:15 Facilitator vs. Interpreter Roles</p>
<p>18:45 Facilitating towards beliefs</p>
<p>19:30 Power Dynamics in Facilitation</p>
<p>21:15 Binary thinking in service design</p>
<p>26:45 Issue: Persona Development & Gender</p>
<p>31:45 Origins of Community Design Issues</p>
<p>36:00 How to approach the large scale</p>
<p>38:15 Open source approach</p>
<p>40:30 The challenges for service designers</p>
<p>41:45 Benefits for Communities and Designers </p>
<p>43:45 Advice for Aspiring Designers</p>
<p>47:15 Recommended Resources</p>
<p>51:45 Proudest Achievements</p>
<p>54:15 Keys to Success</p>
<p>56:45 Additional Resources</p>
<p>57:30 Questions for Reflection</p>
<p>--- [ 2. LINKS ] --- </p>
<p><em> Pronouns they/he</em></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sloanleo" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.linkedin.com/in/sloanleo</a></li>
<li>Website - <a href="floxstudio.com " target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">floxstudio.com </a>or <a href="sloanleo.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">sloanleo.com</a></li>
</ul>
<p>--- [ 3. CIRCLE ] --- </p>
<p>Join our private community for in-house service design professionals. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.servicedesignshow.com/circle/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode_description&utm_id=ep217&utm_content=v2" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://servicedesignshow.com/circle</a></p>](https://us-central1-podcastguru-217d6.cloudfunctions.net/gcf_get_image?image_url=https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/staging/podcast_uploaded_nologo/69151/9b4aabd8b78b66f5.jpeg&width=300&height=300&api_key=xqFmUFX5BHLBTA)
