Bill Gaver, Tony Dunne & Elena Pacenti (1999). "Cultural Probes”
About the Text
This text is about the increase of the presence of the elder in their local communities.
In that case especially Oslo (Norway), Bijlmer (Netherlands) and Peccioli (Italy)
Problem to get solved
To understand them better, it would be possible to create surveys, forms or other current used media. The problem that those media bring along is, they are very formal. The 3 designers, not living in the same region, that came up with the “Probe” approach are sure, that a formal way of getting information will also bring them formal answers. When you want to understand people and their culture, it makes more sense to dig deeper and often that’s quite impossible with a form except you have tailored answers, what again would cut down the chance of getting other great inputs.
Cultural Probes
The cultural probe is a transparent package, containing maps, postcards and other materials that were designed to provoke an inspirational response from the people that will work with it, in that case the elder. Understanding the local cultures is a necessary point, so the design of increasing the presence of the elder won’t seem irrelevant or arrogant to them.
The 3 designers wanted to lead a discussion with the group of people toward unexpected ideas, but they didn’t wanted to dominate it.
The Cultural Probes contained: