Topic outline

  • Human-Centred Research & Design in Crisis

    About: The course introduces students to understanding and engaging in crisis contexts, using human-centred design principles and participatory research methodologies in conjunction with domain experts, partner organizations and everyday citizens. The course will build on extensive research findings from inter-related disciplines of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW), Participatory Design (PD), Participatory Action Research (PAR), A.I. and Crisis Informatics, among others to develop a range of conceptual, rigorous, creative, and pragmatic approaches towards inquiry and engagement in complex crisis contexts.

    Public Course Website: hcrdcrisis2020.wordpress.com


    WEEK 1: Understanding Crisis and Role of Human-Centred Design 


    Lecture (June 2)
    Introduction to Human-Centred Research & Design in Crisis (PDF slides) Prof. Nitin Sawhney, Department of Computer Science, Aalto University


    Public version of video (with participant introductions edited out)

    Workshop (June 4): Real-world Challenges of Crisis and Disaster Management (PDF slides)Marko Korhonen, Disaster Management Coordinator at Finnish Red Cross

     


    WEEK 2: Role of ICT, Interaction Design & Data Science in Crisis Response

    • Lecture (June 9): Role of ICT in Humanitarian Sector & Crisis Communication Strategies (PDF Slides)
      • Role of Information & Communication Technologies in Humanitarian Sector, Ilpo Kiiskinen, Communications Director at Finnish Red Cross
      • Crisis Communication Strategies at Aalto University, Jaakko Salavuo, Communications Director, Aalto University


    • Workshop (June 11): Contact Tracing for COVID-19: Role of Interaction Design & Data Science (PDF slides)
      • Designing the Ketju Contact Tracing App: Interaction Design, Technology and Privacy Implications, Karri-Pekka Laakso, Lead Designer (Interaction), Reaktor
      • Privacy-Preserving Contact Statistics Collection using COVID-19 Contact Tracing Apps, Prof. Antti Honkela, Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science, University of Helsinki and Coordinator of Research Programme in Privacy-preserving and Secure AI, Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI)


    WEEK 3: Challenges of Security and Privacy in Crisis Contexts

    • Lecture (June 16): Why Contact Tracing is Neither Secure or Privacy-Preserving, Prof. Janne Lindqvist, Department of Computer Science, Aalto University (PDF slides)
    • June 18th - No class session scheduled for weekend of Juhannus, mid-summer’s day in Finland.


    WEEK 4: Conducting User Experience Research for Healthcare Contexts

    • Lecture (June 23): Designing for Healthcare Experiences from a Multistakeholder Perspective (PDF slides), Prof. Johanna Kaipio, Department of Computer Science, Aalto University

    Designing for Healthcare Experiences from a Multistakeholder Perspective

    • Lecture (June 25): Data-Driven Approaches to Healthcare Research during the COVID-19 Pandemic (PDF slides), Miika Leminen, Head of Analytics and AI Development Unit at Helsinki University Hospital (HUS)


    • Workshop (June 26, 10:00-12:00): Rethinking Critical Crisis Themes and Design Directions, Prof. Nitin Sawhney and Dr. Salu Ylirisku, Aalto University (PDF slides)


    WEEK 5: Multi-modal Interaction, Design Thinking and Ecologies of Crisis

    • Lecture (June 30): Designing Multi-modal Interfaces for Demanding Conditions in Crisis, Paula Valkonen, Master of Arts, Aalto University and Dr. Jari Laarni, Principal Scientist, VTT (PDF Slides)

    • Workshop (July 3, 10:00 - 12:00)Mapping Ecologies of Crisis using Design Thinking, Prof. Nitin Sawhney, Department of Computer Science, Aalto University and André Santos, PdP Course Coordinator, Aalto Design Factory, Aalto University (PDF Slides)


    WEEK 6: Crisis Informatics, Social Media and the Ethics of Co-Creation

    Lecture (July 7): How do Health Agencies use Instagram for Crisis and Emergency Communication? Aqdas Malik, Post-Doctoral Researcher, Department of Computer Science, Aalto University (PDF Slides)



    Workshop (July 9): EUvsVirus: Ethical and Transdisciplinary Practices when Designing for Societal Issues, Cristina Zaga, Assistant Professor, Human-Centred Design Group, University of Twente (PDF slides)



    WEEK 7: Project Concept Presentations (July 14)



    Part 2: Ethical Practices and Project Workshops

    WEEK 8: Reorientation & Project Discussion (PDF Slides)


    WEEK 9: Ethics, Politics & Practices of AI in Society

    • Lecture (August 3): Ethics and Politics of AI in Society, Prof. Nitin Sawhney, Department of Computer Science, Aalto University (PDF slides)


    • Lecture (August 5): AI Ethics in Practice: Designing for Ecosystems, Prof. Nitin Sawhney, Department of Computer Science, Aalto University (PDF slides)


    • Workshop (August 7): Decolonizing AI & Rethinking Resistance, Prof. Nitin Sawhney, Department of Computer Science, Aalto University

    WEEK 10-12: Participant-led Workshops 

    • Workshop (August 12): Participant-led Brainstorming Session (PDF slides)

    • Workshop (August 19): Purposeful Innovation Skills to Unlock Opportunities in Crises (summary), Floris van der Marel, Pauliina Mattila, Tiina Tuulos, Design Factory, Aalto University

    • Workshop (August 26): Resistance as Change – Power Dynamics, Social Movements & Design Facilitation (PDF slides), Natalia Villaman, MA in Creative Sustainability, Aalto University


    WEEK 13: Final Project Presentations
    • Final Project Presentations (September 2): Project presentations and reflections by participants and guest reviewers (PDF slides).