From design thinking to design doing—A procedural approach creating socially responsive artifacts—A case of designing towards affordable dental care (for India)

Abstract

This paper aims to promote discussion that inquiring through visual stimulation like prototypes add a new dimension to designing socially responsive artefacts. The social challenges are complex in nature and demands for creating responsive artifacts for addressing these issues The research promote discussions on the role a designer should adopt so as to establish desirable elements and attitude that respond to social design challenges. These attitudinal elements could work in addition to the existing tools and methodologies and may add to the process of co creation and design innovation. This research suggests that the designer should be working with the user on same plane for optimal development of a new approach. This framework was put to test and applied through industry sponsored social innovation challenge. The challenge was to “Design for affordable dental care for Indian masses”. A low cost dental chair was developed through this action research (How design-based research and action research contribute to the development of a new design for learning. Designs for Learning 4(2): 8-27 [1]). This paper focuses on the elements that model the role of the designer and impact of protecepting that encourage behavioral change. We describe “protocepting” as a tool of visual thinking among designers, users and clients to gain first hand experience of the existing and desired conditions. We illustrate value of protocepting in critical design research activities. • Understanding existing scenarios. • To develop a change in existing scenarios. • To communicate design ideas/changed user interface.