Page 185 - Design Thinking C11

21 st #Media Literacy
Century
Skills #Information Literacy
Watch the video What is an Empathy Map? -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwF9a56WFWA
• What is the purpose of an empathy map in the design process, and how does it help a
designer understand the user better?
• The video describes different sections of the empathy map (Says, Thinks, Does, Feels).
Which section do you think gives the deepest insight into a user’s real needs, and why?
• Why is it important to differentiate between what a person says and what they think or
feel? How can this impact the final design?

Now that you have collected feedback, group similar responses. This is called Affinity Mapping.

Affinity Mapping (also called Affinity Diagramming) is a method used in design thinking to organise a large
number of ideas, observations, or data into meaningful groups based on their natural relationships.
For example, if ten students complain about long queues at the water cooler, that becomes a theme. Your
design can now aim to solve that problem. Design a solution for your selected shared space or issue. Your
project must:

• Start with empathy research (interviews, observation, etc.)
• Create an empathy map
• Identify key themes using affinity mapping
• Brainstorm and sketch ideas
• Create a network social map (if required)
A network social map is a visual tool used to show how
people are connected to each other within a group,
space, or system. It helps you understand relationships,
communication patterns, and social dynamics between
individuals or groups.
• Build a simple prototype or model

• Present your solution to the class
Lastly answer these questions:
1. How did empathy help you understand the users better?
2. What surprised you during your interviews or observations?
3. How can your solution make a real impact on others?

The “Design for Change” movement started
in India and encourages students like you to
solve real-world problems using empathy
and creativity! Check out https://dfcworld.org/SITE
You may focus on problems in areas like:
a. Social Issues – e.g., gender inequality, poverty, or
displacement
b. Inter-personal Artifacts – e.g., how shared books or tools are used in a classroom
c. Social Events – e.g., improving the way school events include all students
d. Social Facilities – e.g., designing better shared drinking water stations or common rooms

Design Project: Design for Social Spaces—Through Empathy Building
183