Directed research final

DIRECTED RESEARCHRay Mancini | Prof. Tom Klinkowstein | Tuesday, 6 pm

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

Most modern speech therapies have flaws, and no single technique works for everyone suffering from disfluency.

Can design thinking possibly form the foundation for a new method of therapy?


HYPOTHESISThis thesis presents the hypothesis that design methodology may offer a partial solution to overarching flaws in modern day speech therapies.

In contrast to current stuttering approaches, which often set unrealistic expectations of perfection or focus on only one area for improvement, design thinking examines a problem from all sides and promotes experimentation. A concept like the “T-shaped Designer”, emphasizing strong skill set in conjunction with larger knowledge base, could offer a robust approach currently not being utilized in the speech therapy field.

Such research and comparison could bring interdisciplinary insight into understanding and circumventing the limited verbal communication of stutterers.


FLAW / DESIGN COMPARISONSFLAWDESIGN

FLAWDESIGN

FLAWDESIGN

FLAWDESIGN

FLAWDESIGN

Expectation of perfection.Mistakes are aesthetically desirable.

Narrow treatment focus.Look at all aspects of a problem (context, history, environment) to achieve a successful solution.

No streamlining/filtering of spoken content.Simplify a larger message to its focused essence.

Many “one-size-fits-all” approaches.Every problem needs a unique approach.

Limitations will never allow “normal” communication. Limitations force us to be creative and explore different techniques to communicate effectively.


ADRIAN HILLARTIST, ART THERAPIST, EDUCATOR (1895-1977)

Discovered the therapeutic benefits of drawing and painting while recovering from tuberculosis

Coined the term ‘art therapy’

Said the value of art therapy lay in ‘completely engrossing the mind (as well as the fingers)

Suggested artistic work to his fellow inpatients, who were documented in 1945 in a book, under the title, “Art Versus Illness”

INTERDISCIPLINARY INNOVATION


TIM BROWN CEO AND PRESIDENT OF IDEO

Spoke of “T-shaped People, individuals with a deep skill set in their chosen field, plus a broader range of interdisciplinary and social skills.

Able to explore insights from many different perspectives and recognize patterns of behavior.

WIDENING ONE’S KNOWLEDGE BASE


MALCOLM FRASERPHILANTHROPIST, BUSINESSMAN, STUTTERER (1903 - 1994)

Founded the Stuttering Foundation of America using $10 million of his own money

Authored “Self-Therapy for the Stutterer”, providing guidance for stutterers to help themselves without conventional therapy.

CONTINUOUS EXPERIMENTATION


SPEECH DISFLUENCY

• Overview

• Types of Available Therapies

• Therapy Shortcomings / Flaws

DESIGN METHODOLOGY

• Overview

• Evolution of design methodologies through history

• Specific design thinkers

• Specific design methodologies

PROBLEM / HYPOTHESIS

MY STORY

OUTLINE


VALORIZED DESIGNER #1“The valorized designer should see design for its major potential contribution to making the quality of life richer and more sustainable.”

My thesis has the potential to alter the lives of many stutterers, including myself. The final output may be a new and unique addition to the fields of design AND speech therapy.


VALORIZED DESIGNER #2“It is important that (designers) see how the ideas they are studying are changing: where the ideas have come from, how they have changed, and how they may develop.”

By studying historical and contemporary design methodologies and speech therapies, I can arrive at a well-informed solution for my thesis.


VALORIZED DESIGNER #3

“The valorized designer will be able to evaluate design as an integral and integrated part of a particular society.”

My thesis may potentially show how design thinking can aid a very large group of people afflicted with a severe limitation. This places design in direct relation to a stuttering community that may not yet be aware of design’s potential to help them.


RESEARCH SOURCES

SPEECH THERAPY• National Stuttering Association (NSA) • Stuttering Foundation of America• British Stammering Association (BSA)• Various Therapists• Specific therapy cases• My own current experiences and the experiences of others

INNOVATORS IN DESIGN THINKING• IDEO - Tim Brown, David Kelley• Roger Martin

DESIGN THEORIES / APPROACHES1. T-shaped Designers2. Transition Theory3. Analytic vs. Intuitive Thinking4. Other interdisciplinary applications of design thinking


ADJACENT APPLICATIONS

Besides Speech Therapy, the hypothesis and research presented here could possibly be applied to other physical or mental disabilities


Health & Medicine

Directed research final