Adapting Design Thinking and Cultural Probes to the Experiences of Immigrant Youth

Abstract

Our case study focuses on our fifth collaborative design workshop with immigrant and refugee youth, geared to understanding the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in their daily lives, especially as wayfaring aids for helping others with healthcare, transportation, education, employment, etc. The importance of our case study lies in its lessons for co-design research techniques related to immigrant youth. We have found that best practice includes adapting to the different cultures and experiences of immigrant and refugee youth from East Africa, Myanmar, Syria, and Latin America. Our adaptations exemplify our growing understanding of teen culture and the rapid evolution of ICTs created, employed and managed by youth. Our fifth workshop, with 22 Latino teens, embodies best practices related to the importance of visuals and music in forging youth's digital identities and their ICT wayfaring behavior.