29.D. Skills building seminar: Using design thinking to mitigate the impact of homelessness on individuals and families
Authors:   Organised by: University College Dublin (Ireland),   Chair persons: Thilo Kroll - Ireland, Kate Frazer - Ireland
Published: October 2020

In keeping with the conference theme Future of Humanity: analysis, advocacy and action; we propose a skills-building workshop incorporating innovative learning practices and use of design thinking processes for a pertinent public health issue - homelessness. Complex problems, including homelessness, remain intractable due to a number of issues including policies, social norms, powerlessness and lack of knowledge. Leaving no one behind is the mantra of the programme for Sustainable Development Goals; the blueprint for a sustainable world. It is imperative to consider how this translates for homeless groups and ensure they are not left behind and continue to experience inequalities in health outcomes and hardship. Design thinking itself is an approach to problem-solving that is human-centred, focusing on empathy, idea generation and prototyping of solutions underpinned by designer thinking processes with consideration of feasibility and viability of solutions. We propose a 60-minute design thinking sprint for active, collaborative learning, building capacity and knowledge. Our proposed format incorporates creativity and innovative methods to engage with conference delegates, sharing of experiences and bringing the outside world into our session. This method frames a problem in a human-centric way by first understanding another's perspective and we propose to use the Stanford D. model: empathize, define, ideate, prototype and test. To introduce design thinking to address homelessness as a major public health issue.To undertake a design sprint with participants to address the health impact of homelessness through the development of low fidelity prototypes.To explore the application of design thinking to other complex public health challenges and as a tool for collaboration and problem-solving in public health.

We will use the framework of a design sprint for the session:

Introduction - 'Homelessness' as a complex public health challenge 5 mins

Explaining Design Thinking and Design Sprints 5 mins Phase 1 - Empathizing: Understanding Homelessness 10 minsPhase 2 - Defining: What is a specific user challenge? 5 minsPhase 3 - Ideating: Brainstorm solutions 10 minsPhase 4 - Rapid prototyping: Building low fidelity solutions for testing 10 minsPhase 5 - Pitching: Presentation of prototypes 10 mins

Summary and next steps for collaboration (Chair): 5 mins

The workshop will use creative methods of engagement, including drawing, writing, storyboarding, constructing/modelling components to build end-user solutions for homelessness. The use of a design sprint format offers an alternative to either oral presentations or a panel discussion for collaborative and creative engagement with delegates. Both Chairpersons have used design thinking to consider homelessness for children, families and adults in Ireland.

Key messages

Design thinking provides testable innovations in service development for socially marginalised groups. Design thinking is a low cost, creative form that facilitates close collaboration between service providers and users.