W5: Visually explaining ethnography. Communicating complexity.

Abstract

Simplicity is power. How can we transmit and translate something that’s complex in a simple way?

Rich visualizations allow for complexity to become an aspect of immersion. Different reading levels involve a viewer differently, progressively presenting more detail. Complexity in a well-designed visualization becomes an issue of scale. Think of one of those detailed diagrams, the ones that are sometimes referred to as explosions. In those, one can appreciate all the parts of a car and see where they fit, how they interact, etc. The same can (and has been applied to ethnographic research).

Approach

Approach, goals and key benefits
We will share experiences, tricks, tools to find different ways of doing and transferring ethnographic results and process.

At the end we will understand how visualization tools and process can help ethnography in two areas or moments: In the process of ethnography; making this process visual has a direct impact on analysis. And at the end of a research process, being the more common and evident use of visualizations. When done well it can guide the reader through a complex concept in a simple well-structured visualization

Structure

Structure/Agenda:
This workshop is designed to give participants the opportunity to experience a complex ethnographic reality and translate and communicate it through the use of visualization tools.

• Introduction
  Participants will get to know each other
  
• Visualization toolkit
  We will share some useful tools, tips and techniques to simplify the process and communication to detect new alternatives or opportunities for them with the rest of the group
• Exploring complexity
  Participants will be asked to go out and do some ethnographic work, explore a context in Tokyo.
• Discussion and visual prototyping
  The group will share their experiences and work together to find the best way to visual simplifications
• Wrap up

Target Audience

This workshop is meant to share experiences and ways of doing things with those who like exploring the way ethnography is done.

Organizers

Roberto Holguin
Founder & Director of Insitum
robertoholguin@insitum.com

Roberto has a master’s degree and a PhD (abd) from the Institute of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology. At insitum he mainly deals with operations, endlessly trying to find the right balance of design work and thinking with ethnographic methods and techniques (and then trying to communicate to clients on why it matters to do so) .

Mónica Orozco
Operation Manager at Insitum
monicaorozco@insitum.com

She holds a BA in Industrial Design from the UNAM in Mexico City. Since she began collaborating with Insitum six years ago, she has been part of different projects as researcher and latter on leader. Her experience lies on product innovation projects especially in the food & beverage, editorial, insurance services, and telecommunication industries, but she also gets involved in research and branding. She plans, coordinates and carries out projects in Latin America and the US.