Citizen science design the role of product designers: A study case, insectivoros

Abstract

User-centred approaches as a designer, as well as open design and citizen science present challenges for our students in setting up their competences. In recent years, our School of Design has endeavoured to incorporate proposals close to these movements, which come from local and national agents working in contexts of greater social and environmental complexity. The research, supported by a case study, has served to contrast the following hypothesis: there is a change in the role of our students in this type of approach that broadens their capacities, leading them to become mediators and facilitators in the framework of Citizen Science Design projects. The article has been organised as follows, a brief introduction on the background of the project and the research, a description of the project and above all of the changes observed in its role, to end with a discussion of the results in relation to the theoretical framework. The last point is dedicated to the conclusions, pointing out the need to examine in greater depth these projects that seem to have a positive impact on the skills of our product students.