Research into design can take many forms and approaches. Design research into current events often center on failling products (for example, misleading voting ballots) or failing services (for example, failing health services). This paper seeks to look beyond the realms of the familiar design territory to gain insights the relevance of concepts, practices, and methods of human-centered design. Reflecting on the Chile Miner Rescue from a human-centered design perspective, we learn how this accident–which endangered the lives of 33 men–quickly dissolved the boundaries between the technical engineering world of the mining industry and the basic human experience of the miners, their families & friends, their communities and the experts that constituted the rescue team. Despite some important mitigating factors that contributed to the success of this rescue operation (clear problem statement; clear and commonly shared goal; availability of resources; etc.) and in the awareness that the rescue team therefore did not face a "wicked design problem," this project offers valuable lessons into designing with and for people.
| Date: | 4th of May 2011 |
| Location: | European Academy of Design Conference, Porto, Portugal |
