Event Details

Have you ever been a part of a participatory process or use of a participatory method only to find that it fell short of any real shift of power dynamics? Have you ever compared notes with another participatory designer only to find out their definition of participatory design or participatory research is different than your own? Have you faced opposition from your organization in practicing research and design in a more participatory way?

Come into the conversation, join us, and see what Victor Udoewa has to say about such experiences, the different definitions of participatory design and how participatory design can actually be used to reinforce hierarchies. One way he has found to dismantle that system is to practice radical participatory design. He will share what that means, what forms it takes, and how you can begin moving in that direction along with a direct challenge to our community of designers in regards to our own power.

About the Speaker

Victor Udoewa (he/him) is the Chief Experience Officer and Service Design Lead in the NASA Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Program.

Prior to NASA, he was the Director of Strategy at 18F, a civic consultancy for the federal government inside the federal government. He helped to start the education business unit, develop a line of educational products and services, direct strategy, manage the group of digital strategists and the digital strategy practice, and serve as a designer and strategist on partner projects.

Previously, as a Global Education Instructional Designer and Training Development Specialist at Google, he designed learning experiences and learning software for people in low-to-middle-income countries around the world. The education could range from experiences covering how to develop web applications and how to use the internet to improve teaching and learning, to experiences exploring how to use internet technologies in post-disaster emergency response situations as well as global digital literacy. As a part of that work, he also advised Google in global energy and access work.

Prior to Google he served at USAID and DHS as a science & technology policy advisor and development engineer focusing on infrastructure, post-disaster reconstruction, climate neutrality and global health.

Building on his time teaching in secondary schools, he still teaches teachers as an educational specialist and adjunct professor of education focusing on science and math education through classes, workshops, and video series.

He still conducts medical, engineering, or education research and is a certified health crisis and trauma counselor focusing (HIV/AIDS, miscarriage, etc.).

He enjoys singing in his male a cappella group, teaching salsa classes on the weekend, and time with his wonderful family.

Loose Agenda

** We will be recording this session**

6:00-6:10 PM Introduction and Housekeeping

6:10-7:00 PM Victor's Presentation

7:00-7:30 PM Discussion

** Recordings are published to your YouTube, don't forget to subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh5IDURWweBvTwx23bY_eog