Directed Research Olson

5. free writing

2. thought leaders

1. trusted research 7. find analogies

8. thought experiments4. non-designers

9. conclusions3. ethnographic research

6. activate your subconscious

John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein

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Collect information from trusted research sources.

Professional periodicalsLibrary resourcesTrusted websites.


Seek insights from industry “thought leaders”


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Conduct ethnographic research.


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Seek the advice and opinions

of Non-Designers.


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Process thoughts, reactions and questions through

free-writing exercises


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Structure your research schedule to optimize your

subconscious problem solving ability.


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Create analogies. Analyze scenarios from history or other

fields of study that are applicable to your subject.


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Conduct thought experiments.Asses sets of possible future consequences

from the data you have collected.


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Develop a conclusionCreate proposals for experiments

to test this concolusion.


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I want to explore political slogans and the branding of political campaigns, in contrast to data driven dynamic visuals.

Because I want to learn more about complex political realities that are often broken down into a single word or phrase

To see if there is a way to use design to create a more authentic / transparent form of political messaging.



I want to explore the power of visual memes andnon-heiearchically structured digital social activism

Because i want to see how user-created visual content can be used as a tool for social activism.

To find ways to better leverage digital media as a tool for social mobilization.



I want to explore the “nonsensical” tenants of Dadaism and their possible application to contemporary digital user-experience design

Because I want see how “illogicality” can be applied to the overly rationalized work of UX design

To find surprisings and original ways to create move engaging digital content.

Technology

Directed Research Olson