Narrative analysis reveals disconnect between sustainable design intentions and resident practices
Category: User-Centred Design · Effect: Moderate effect · Year: 2015
Understanding the lived narratives of residents and managers is crucial for the successful implementation of sustainable urban development projects, as stated intentions can diverge from actual practices.
Design Takeaway
Incorporate user storytelling and social practice analysis into the design process to ensure that sustainable intentions are aligned with and supported by the lived realities of the people who will use and manage the designed environment.
Why It Matters
This research highlights that the success of sustainable design is not solely determined by initial planning and policy, but also by how these intentions are interpreted and enacted within the daily lives of the people who inhabit and manage the space. Designers must consider the dynamic interplay between designed environments and user behavior to achieve genuine sustainability.
Key Finding
While overarching sustainability goals were communicated through policy and media, the actual daily practices of people living and working in the Olympic Village shaped its evolving narrative of sustainability, showing a gap between initial intentions and ongoing lived experiences.
Key Findings
- Broad metanarratives of sustainability in policy and media significantly influenced the perceptions and practices of residents and managers.
- The actual practices of residents and managers within the neighbourhood continue to evolve, demonstrating a dynamic relationship with the designed sustainable environment.
- There is a notable intersection between the intended social and ecological goals of the development and the lived experiences of its constituents.
Research Evidence
Aim: How do the lived narratives of residents and managers intersect with and challenge the intended sustainability narratives of an urban development project?
Method: Qualitative narrative analysis combined with social practice theory.
Procedure: The study analyzed the stories and experiences of various stakeholders involved in Vancouver's Olympic Village, from planners to residents and managers, to understand how sustainability intentions were translated into practice and how these practices evolved over time.
Context: Urban sustainable neighbourhood development, specifically Vancouver's Olympic Village.
Design Principle
Design interventions must be understood and evaluated through the lens of user narratives and evolving social practices to achieve holistic sustainability.
How to Apply
When designing any community-focused project, conduct in-depth interviews and observational studies to understand the existing narratives and practices of potential users, and use this to inform and refine design decisions.
Limitations
The study is specific to one urban development and may not be generalizable to all contexts. The focus on narrative may overlook quantitative aspects of sustainability performance.
Student Guide (IB Design Technology)
Simple Explanation: Just because a building is designed to be 'green' doesn't mean people will automatically live or work in a 'green' way. Their stories and daily habits matter just as much as the design itself.
Why This Matters: This research shows that understanding the human side of design – people's stories and how they actually use things – is as important as the technical specifications for creating successful and sustainable designs.
Critical Thinking: To what extent can a designer truly anticipate and incorporate the diverse and evolving narratives of all potential users into a design?
IA-Ready Paragraph: This research highlights the importance of understanding user narratives in design. By analyzing the stories of individuals interacting with a designed environment, it's possible to uncover discrepancies between intended outcomes and actual user practices, which is crucial for developing truly effective and sustainable solutions.
Project Tips
- When researching user needs, go beyond surveys and ask users to tell stories about their experiences with similar products or environments.
- Consider how the stories users tell might reveal underlying assumptions or values that conflict with your design goals.
How to Use in IA
- Use narrative analysis to explore how users interpret and interact with a prototype or existing product, comparing their stories to the intended function.
Examiner Tips
- Demonstrate an understanding of how user narratives can influence the success or failure of a design, even if the design itself is technically sound.
Independent Variable: Intended sustainability narratives (policy, media, design goals).
Dependent Variable: Lived narratives and practices of residents and managers.
Controlled Variables: Specific urban development context (Vancouver's Olympic Village).
Strengths
- Provides a rich, qualitative understanding of user engagement with sustainable design.
- Integrates social practice theory to explain the dynamic interplay between design and behavior.
Critical Questions
- How can designers actively facilitate the co-creation of narratives with users to ensure alignment?
- What are the ethical considerations when interpreting and representing user narratives in design documentation?
Extended Essay Application
- Investigate the narrative surrounding a chosen design problem, exploring how different stakeholders tell stories about its causes, impacts, and potential solutions.
- Analyze how these narratives influence the design brief and the proposed solutions.
Source
City stories : from narrative to practice in Vancouver's Olympic Village · cIRcle (University of British Columbia) · 2015 · 10.14288/1.0215882