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Systemic userism in service design
Abstract: Userism in service design manifests as a group of humans reduced to be users (and only users) of a given service. Userism prevents these people from cocreating, codesigning, and coproducing services. Transnational (often colonialist) digital services are a case in point; however, userism also appears in analog interfaces. The systemic aspect of userism refers […] - Nov 25, 2024 -
Subverting generative AI by playing surrealist games
Abstract: Generative AI is flooding the internet with hyperreal images. Can surrealism save us from hyperrealism? Surrealism uncovers the reality that nobody wants to face: the surreal, i.e., the real that is more real than the real. This lecture introduces Pixelated Dreams, a surrealist game that uncovers the reality of generative AI. Instead of turning […] - Nov 10, 2024 -
Visual diary (a.k.a. visual journal) is a method in which a constant, regular, and self-determined creative activity is proposed for the daily life of its bearer. The activity may include recording ideas, creating concepts, taking notes, or playing. The main difference to a personal diary is that here, the owner doesn’t just record what has […] - Nov 6, 2024 -
The life cycle of a design research object
Abstract: What is design research? How does it differ from design activity? Consider this distinction regarding the activity’s object. Design activity may be an object of design research in research about design. Yet, in research through design, the research object is shared with another activity, for example, another science. Drawing from personal experiences in hospital […] - Nov 4, 2024
Frederick van Amstel
Design researcher & educator