Dirty design

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Dirty Design Session (Author: Prof. Sonja Hörster)

• A "Dirty Design Session" is a creative method that works with the different perspectives on a design question. A design session creates space in which emerging ideas and concepts can be put down on paper, jointly differentiated and recorded as a draft.

What are the goals of this method?

• Finding multi-perspective answers to design questions (how....?)
• Develop creative solutions and visualize them
• Visible solutions

In which situations can this method be applied?

• A "Dirty Design Session" is suitable for working intensively in smaller teams of four to five people on the solution of a design question.
• The design session is often a session within a longer workshop (one to several days). Every workshop participant can take part in this session.

How does this method work in practice?

• Describe the application as practical as possible
• How much time is needed for each step?
• Which materials/rooms/technical equipment is needed?
• What are the tasks of the facilitators?
• What should be avoided?

Examples of typical results

• If you have already applied the method in the past or have access to results from other processes, please show a few examples of how the method works and of its results

What are typical next steps after applying this method?

• Give an outlook of how to follow-up: How should the results be processed and used in the further process?

Any limitations and typical pitfalls?

• Reflect a bit on what the methods can not do and what the process designer should be aware of, which additional activities are needed
• Any ethical concerns as we are working with people? Add a few reflections

Worksheets and Materials

• If you have or know any practical worksheets or templates, please add them here for download
• If these come from other websites, please link directly to those and add the authors you are referring to here

Further readings, links and references

• Add scientific articles, weblinks and other relevant resources

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