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The first feedback session kind of threw me off.  There were many positives, but there was also a lot of re-thinking to do.

“…but what good is a design process or any process if its not challenging” said a friend.

My earlier design brief was –  to generate and design “age-appropriate” and attractive content for urban children on personal safety and the importance of understanding and articulating feelings.

My feedback focussed on why is important to design for children and parents? (the plan was to make storybooks along with a guide for parents)

> parents make decisions for children

> designing for two different age groups in three months is a tough ask, and requires a lot of research.

> even if the child is attracted to the content, the parent needs to okay it, to buy it/read it

> parents who are unaware/uninformed may not pick up such content for their child

So what is the point i am trying to drive? 

If parents are the decision makers and scenario changers i need to find out what is their opinion on the matter. What do they think about child sexual abuse, how much do they know about preventive measures, have they been teaching it to their children etc.

How is this information going to change anything?

> It may change who i am addressing and what is it that i am designing. 

> it will help me narrow down on what the real problem is. 

In order to understand the psyche of the parents i need to construct a questionnaire. More about this – here.

Even before my first meeting i had chalked out the next stage and these were what i had planned on focussing on. 

– to meet with a psychologist/ psychiatrist who deals with child sexual abuse therapy
– a survey for parents 

– to understand via a workshop for children what is their current knowledge on personal safety

I had been planning a small workshop for children using my theatre background and visual skills to understand how much children know about safety and protection also to gain an insight into how they understand and articulate feelings. I was most excited about doing this, however – on approaching some schools and children’s organisations – i was asked about my background in such training.

– since i have no training about how to talk about safety, it would have been a sensitive space to enter. if i was posed with questions by the children, that i cannot answer appropriately, it could be damaging.

– since the focus of my project has now taken a new turn – that is, i am trying to understand the psyche and existing knowledge of parents- carrying out the workshop would serve no purpose until i am sure that i am designing for children.  right now, i am still trying to understand or frame the problem and my solution to this problem.

Let’s get on with this.