Robert Harper
Design in the Museum is a design activity for young people visiting V&A Dundee, introducing design behaviours, and linking them to spaces within the museum.
About
Over a 10-week internship with the Design for Business team at V&A Dundee, I explored the value of mindset in the adoption of design thinking, creativity, and people-centred ways of working. Through this and work with embedding design behaviours, I developed ‘Design in the Museum’, an activity for young people visiting V&A Dundee which encourages creative collaboration, prototyping, and empathy to design a solution to a real complex problem, meeting the needs of real people. The activity not only introduces people to key design behaviours but links them to spaces within the museum space, utilising the resources, artefacts, and architectural features of the building to support each stage of the activity.
Design in the Museum
The design of the activity was informed by research into current perspectives on design thinking, focusing on creating a beginner friendly experience which didn’t involve frameworks, technical jargon, or prior knowledge of design and is intended to be used by anyone who wants to learn more about the design process. As a contribution to the organisation, the activity provides insight into the type of design work that the Design for Business team are promoting and supplements V&A Dundee’s strategic goal of becoming “Scotland’s design champion”.
The Museum Map
The map splits the museum space into defined zones which correspond to the design activities within, signified by colourful shapes which are coded to the key design behaviours associated with each step of the process.
The Design Canvas & Problem/Idea Card
The instructions and a space to work on, are contained in the 'Design Canvas'. This acts as a space for people to sketch, draw, doodle and write on in their journey to create a solution to their chosen problem and encourages them to talk to people and gain additional perspectives. On the back of a card, featuring their chosen problem, is a space to communicate the final concept that results from the activity which can be shared in the museum space or on social media.
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To keep up to date and find out about more of my design work, check out my website and feel free to get in contact by email.