Project Title

Reimagining the Consumer-to-Object Relationship

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR | Phoebe Kowalska

Extremely passionate about user research, consumer culture and the dynamics of the user-to-object relationship. A highly curious Strategic Design Researcher and Lecturer who applies critical and speculative design thinking approaches to experiment with design futures or scenario strategies of user experiences.

| User Experience | Speculative Design Thinking | Design Futures | Consumer Culture | UCD | User-to-Object Relationships |

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Project Aim

This research focused on gaining a comprehensive understanding of the consumer-to-object relationship, through an investigation into how consumers use objects in intended and unintended methods.

Project Approach

This research adopted a ‘Pragmatic’ epistemology and ‘Critical Realism’ theoretical perspective. To respond to the research agenda, a triangulated mixed methods approach was applied, which led to a holistic way to interrogate the aims and objectives of the study.

 

 

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Project Outcomes

Outcomes pointed to a comprehensive understanding of the role that objects perform in a consumer’s daily life, and the enablers or barriers impacting such a dynamic. Through this project a novel way in which to situate the consumer-to-object dynamic was developed.

 

To read Phoebe Kowalska’s thesis – please CLICK HERE
If you are interested in talking or learning more, please email: phoebekowalska@gmail.com

 

Project Collaborators

Within this research project 100 consumer perspectives were aquired, as well as understanding 5 industry professional viewpoints of data collected.

 

Project Keywords

#Objects #ConsumerExperience #SpeculativeDesign #SpeculativeFutures #ConsumerCulture #DesignedFunction

 

OUR TEAM

12 PhD Candidates at 5 Universities across the North West of England

Please click on the below images to view each candidates profile.

  • Jess Robins
  • Veronica Pialorsi
  • Phoebe Kowalska
  • Lee Omar
  • Laura Wareing
  • Jemma Street
  • Janett Adler
  • Ian Costabile
  • Gemma Potter
  • Catharine Patha
  • Alexandros Kallegias
  • Ben Blackwell

Collaborative Partner Institutions