Heather Bussler

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Blogging.

I would love to continue on with blogging about my experiences and research found through projects to share with the designing community. I think this was a great way to keep track of my thoughts and findings throughout the entire class and project. It was also a great way to share with classmates new information I had discovered. It is also a great way to interact with classmates that is a more casual setting where opinions can be shared. Overall, this was a great experience and I hope to continue doing it. 

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Qualitative and Quantitative Research

I find that these two forms of research are important. I have had experience with these forms of research in my undergrad and it has really helped me understand what I am studying. Without these forms of research, I would not be able to understand the target audience of a project nor would I have research that was already done on a topic to get a different point of view. I will continue to do these forms of research in my career. 

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Wicked Problem: Obesity

As someone who was severely obese two years ago, I feel like I am obligated to talk about this wicked problem. My father was heavy and my mom was always thin. My brother got my moms genes and I got my fathers. I dieted since the sixth grade, suffered intense bullying, and felt that I would always be big and there was nothing I could do about it. I do not put that on either my parents as they both tried to teach me how to eat healthily and practice healthy habits but I had. Anyways, I had gastric bypass surgery at age 21. Gastric bypass is also the only known “cure” for diabetes due to the limit on real sugar that I can now have. If I consume it, I get sick and that is NOT fun. My father, husband, his mom, and brother also had the surgery. We are all healthier and leading a better life. If this is the solution to obestiy, the problem is how do we a. make it more affordable b. make it more socially accepted. Countless celebrities have had it but do not speak about the surgery but rather portray the unrealistic idea that they lost the weight “naturally”. Time to talk about it!

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Wicked Problem: Poverty

This is an unfortunate wicked problem. Poverty, like a wicked problem, is multidimensional and there are too many people and opinions involved in it for there to be one concrete answer. There are ways to help contribute to help reduce the poverty problem but there will never be one answer. 

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Everyone’s favorite duo, Ben & Jerry. This ice cream company is an example of responsible design leadership. According to their website, they are a values-led company that takes pride in giving back and promoting wellness for all. Currently, Ben & Jerry’s give more than $1.8 million per year to help communities, social change, sustainability, and other initiatives in Vermont and throughout the country.  

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This week we are talking about brands or people that demonstrate responsible design leadership. The first example is Toms, the company that is known for “One for One”. Toms was created in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie and is a shoe company that will donate a pair of shoes (or other product) for every product, not just shoes, that are bought. Mycoskie is a responsible design leader and has even invested in jobs, social entrepreneurship, and integration with other charitable organizations through their Giving Partners program.

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HTC First or The Facebook Phone

I could not help myself to continue the talk about this phone. What sometimes seems like a great idea is not always. Androids goal with this phone was to put the people first. Facebook got together with Android and tried to create a phone that allowed people to stay connected through Facebook. You would not have to open up the app to see what people were talking about or to interact with Facebook posts. They were all available on the lock screen of the phone. All through this innovative idea seemed like such a great way to put the users first, it turned out to be a failure. The phones were released in April 2013 and were put on sale for $0.99 a month later. Sometimes a stake in the ground is not always successful and this is an example of that. 

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Is The End of Snapchat Near?

Their stake in the ground has really sent their platform for a loop. In the past year or so, Snapchat decided to make a few changes by adding stories and “discovery”. The first time we all opened up Snapchat it was a way to Snapchat your friends and make ridiculous faces and make sure that it disappeared forever for no one to ever see again. (Yes, others used it for other things but we will not touch on that.) Their upgrades may have had the intention of keeping us all more connected but it is also taking away the anonymity some loved. There are social media influencers, news channels, and now ads that have taken over Snapchat. I still use it and love the app, but I think the end is near for this beloved platform. Their stake in the ground by trying to make connectivity between one another more simple may have some more people leaving the social media platform for this reason. 

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Green Toys

After thinking about Legos and all the toys that are made, what about a “Green” option that is environmentally friendly and still fun? The company that put a stake in the ground with this movement is Green Toys. They make toys from 100% recycled materials and they even make their packaging out of soy ink. They have recycled 73,699,345 milk jugs (as of 12:11PM EST) and the amount goes up every second. They are innovative and environmentally responsible. More companies should be more like Green Toys. 

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Apple

Apple has always stood out from the crowd to me, but I was not sure why it did, until Module 5. The reason that it sticks out is the way they make their products aesthetically pleasing. When I see an Android or a Google Pixel, to me, they do not stand up to Apple. Apple “creates desire” with their products and makes millions of us want the newest and Apple product right at the release. Their ability to create something that is so clean and user-friendly is unique. Steve Jobs altered the way that we look at technology and for that, I applaud the way he put a stake in the ground and was able to change the way consumers look at electronic devices. 

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After conducting more research, I found research on Nine Cultural Parameters. Although these were not specifically made for design, I think that they are parameters that can be used when designing. 

Should we follow Cultural Parameters?

Absolutely, we should follow cultural parameters as designers. I think that parameters are important. We follow “standard” parameters and I think that a lot of them have cultural parameters built into them. BUT it is also important we also think specifically about these variables as they are also important to the success of each design.

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Cultural Parameters

What is the definition of Culture?

Culture, like many words out there, have different meanings. The definition I am using is from the Merriam-Webster: 

“Culture: the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group” and “...the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterize an institution or organization” 

What are Cultural Parameters?

As there is not much information online about what a culture parameter is, I am going to make my own definition. To me, a culture parameter is a cultural factor to consider when creating a solution to a wicked problem. When tackling a design thinking problem, or wicked problem, it is important to keep all parameters in mind, especially cultural parameters. When we come up with a solution to a problem, it can affect many people from different cultures in different ways. It is important not to violate the beliefs or values of these groups and make sure that you are benefiting everyone the best you can.

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Parameters are a necessity. They help you guide your project to make sure that you are checking all the boxes you need to in order to create works that have meaning. 

Cost makes sure that you are creating something at a fair price while improving the life of others. Without this, most designs would be expensive and unreachable to many communities and individuals. 

Space and Use are important when designing because you need to think about how will people interact with what you design? If you don’t know this, then what are you really designing for? 

Emotional needs are going to help consumers feel empowered. If they use or take part in a design, it should make their life easier and they should somehow benefit from using it. 

Societal impact is not always conscious but your design needs to work well in the world and it needs to have a positive impact on the world. If it is negative, then the design may fall apart and you will be back at square one. 

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Solar Roadways

Current roadways/sidewalks/parking lots take a lot of maintenance, planning, and money. What if there was a better solution to these outdated forms of a thoroughfare that it is a solution a GIANT wicked problem. Solar Roadways is a company that was created by two engineers, Julie and Scott Brusaw, that plan to improve asphalt surfaces by replacing them with self sustaining solar panels. They are hexagon LED panels that can change color lights, forms, and can even melt ice and snow to ensure you always have a safe road to travel or a safe sidewalk to walk on in cold weather. These new thoroughfares will also collect water and either treat itself on sight or send it to a water treatment center to be treated then put into the taps of your house for use. 

 For this post, I will break down the tangible parameters of Solar Roadways. 

Tangible Parameters:

Cost: Yes, it cost money to get the panels onto the road and installed but they essentially pay for themselves by creating the energy of their own to make them work. 

Space and Use: Stakeholders and end-users will both be interacting with this invention. Everyone drives the car or rides a bike to work every day which ultimately will affect how they interact and use this invention. 

Materials: Recycled products are used to make the panels. 

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Little Steps = Big Changes

After just doing an easy Google search, I came across an organization called the National Alliance on Mental Illness. On their webpage, there is an article called “9 Ways To Fight Mental Health Stigma” by Laura Greenstein. Their recommendation to help fight stigma is: talk openly about mental health, educate yourself and others, be conscious of language, encourage equality between physical and mental illness, show compassion for those with mental illness, choose empowerment over shame, be honest about treatment, let the media know when they’re being stigmatizing, and don’t harbor self-stigma. 

These solutions make me question two things: 1. can these simple solutions be the answer to solving stigmatism? and 2. are we where stigmatizing against mental health starts? Are we our own worst enemy?

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Mental Illness Stigma in Health Care Settings

It is important to do research on a topic before trying to solve it. I want to be informed about everything that is happening in relation to getting treatment. As part of my qualitative research, I found an article called “Mental Illness Stigma in Health Care Settings a Carrier To Care” by Christina Pellegrini and fortunately, I was able to learn a lot. The quote that stuck out to me the most was:

“lack of training may also contribute to physicians being unaware of how their language and actions can be harmful to patients with mental illness...”It could be anything from words that are used, to glances, to overall treatment.”

I think this was important for Pellegrini to touch on. From my personal experiences, I can contest to this statement. When a patient goes to someone for help it takes a lot of courage, but if they are not treated appropriately, it can drive a patient to not seek help again. This does not make stigmas only worse. If a healthcare provider doesn't believe you, then you may feel like no one will. 

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Qualitative & Quantitative Research

Another type of tool that I plan on using for my project is qualitative and quantitative research. I have used this method before and it allows the researcher to have their own set of information as well as look for new information. I plan on using some surveys and doing research on what is already out there. I think that this will be beneficial to find out what people think about the stigma around mental health and if people without a mental health issue understand the severity of the problem. There is so much to be explored and this will help me keep it organized.