You tube Design Methodology

An abstract visualization of design methodology.

GO TO:
YouTube link

WHAT? Visual Aid

Idea: Redefine Dyslexia in social and cultural contexts
What?: Takes the form similar to an old anatomy book

Anatomy Sample

Refining the Idea

September 18,2008

Few main key discoveries from my research

1. Language conditions how we think and learn. In most conventional education system, language is the vehicle to teach both concrete and abstract ideas. However, dyslexics use different channels (visual and auditory) to decode information. Since design is the medium to communicate to the world, how can design speak in a channel that dyslexics can understand?
2. Dyslexia is different with different people. Thus, dyslexia is difficult to detect and sometimes, as a result, untreated.
3. Dyslexia may be regarded as a “gift”. Dyslexics possess strengths in creativity, lateral-thinking, visual-spatial awareness and right-hemisphere dominant abilities.

Design Challenge (Problem):
How to create design channels that facilitate communication for both dyslexics and non-dyslexics?

Goals (hope to achieve):

• To bridge the gap between Dyslexia and design
• To create a tool or a standard that embraces Dyslexia and can be seen and understood by more people. To simultaneously facilitate efficient communication and promote awareness.
• To promote awareness for early detection and treatment.
  
• To redefine Dyslexia in the social and cultural contexts.
• To encourage special educational systems for Dyslexics to pursue in communication design.

Research on Therapies/Methods

For my primary research, I thought it would be a good idea to go and interview any professionals. So I emailed the Learning Disabilities Association Vancouver and asked for an interview. However, they are busy with their upcoming conferences in October so it is now an on-going email exchange.

This is a brief information from the email:

"There are no treatments per se, there are different types of remediation available to help people with dyslexia with reading. Each person with a learning disability is unique in the sense that although 2 people may have dyslexia how it is manifested can interact with their other learning strengths."


Contact Information:

Learning Disabilities Association Vancouver
3292 East Broadway, Vancouver BC V5M 1Z8
Tel: 604-873-8139 Fax: 604-873-8140
Website

Research Phase #2

After a tons of research on Dyslexia, I realized that a lot have been done regarding to the conditions itself. So, stepping away from the medical field, I am using Dyslexia to guide me through my project instead. So in light of Dyslexia, I am trying (Objective) to bridge the gap between Dyslexia and design.

There are two directions this problem can go:

1. Harness the definition of Dyslexia or what it means to be dyslexic. And how existing therapies or methodologies/thinking be useful to create tools for designers.

OR

2. How design as communication medium helps dyslexics to understand the world?

Research expands from here on:
1. What therapies or methodologies are out there?
2. What defines a designer? What are the deficiencies?

Start thinking:
Assumptions of the world -- what's important in this world?
What ideas satisfy the above ideas?