Natacha Poggio
Design Assistant Professor
Visual Communication Design
as agent of change University of Hartford
Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, January 16, 2009
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

me
my background
my teaching
sustainability | design for all
India
Engineers Without Borders
future
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

me
my background
my teaching
India
future
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

ARGENTINA
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphic Design;
University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Master of Fine Arts, Design;
University of Texas at Austin, USA.
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

me
my background
my teaching
India
future
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

“You must be the change
you want to see in the world.”
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

In my inquiry into the design of human experience, I look
beyond applied products to include all sorts of objects and
environments with which people interact.
In the beginning of my graduate studies, my goal was to
provide design solutions for a population with different abilities
[such as the visually impaired]. So first I worked on
understanding how sight can influence the perception of a
given environment.
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

Installation involving colored light to transform the atmosphere of a space
throughout a 24 hour period.
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

As my investigations evolved, I realized that individuals without
disabilities can also augment their experiences by utilizing
other senses, beyond sight.
My design process combines universal design principles with the
perceptive possibilities of the physical senses to provoke an
impact on the audience, in their approaching, thinking, and
reacting to my work.
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

Universal design has become intrinsic to
good design:
• Design profoundly influences our daily
lives, our sense of comfort and control.
• Variation in human ability is ordinary,
not special, and, affects most of us for
some part of our lives.
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

Design must anticipate the reality of diversity in our bodies and our
brains and build in solutions.
I strongly believe in design as the work of “changing existing
situations into preferred ones” [Herbert Simon, 1967].
In design, I focus my attention on places, things and communication.
Good design must not only work for as many potential users as
possible but must also enhance everyone's experience.
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

CATTt Website providing recommendations for cultural
administrators to make museum experiences more
enriching for all. The site serves as a framework to
assist cultural agencies in making their facilities and
programs fully accessible to everyone by providing
alternative ways of experiencing a given exhibition.
So that everyone (including the 54 million Americans
with disabilities) can learn through, participate in, and
enjoy the arts.
Some of the recommendations included:
• provide tactile demonstrations of art work (sculpture, textures in paintings)
• use of interactive devices to allow for a participatory experience (keypads, aural devices)
• set up the exhibitions (curatorial design) to accommodate diverse disabilities.
URL: http://www.ices.utexas.edu/~natacha/CATTt/
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

me
my background
my teaching
India
future
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

Designing for our future selves
Universal Design workshop
A workshop exploring how to
create everyday (commercially
practical and profitable) mobile
phone products that are more
accessible for people with
disabilities, as well as more
usable by everyone.
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

Designing for our future selves
Universal Design workshop
Through experiential exercises
using custom-made impairment
simulators, students had hands-on
personal experiences of the types
of problems encountered by people
with disabilities in using today's
mobile technology.
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

The students analyzed cell phones' utility, user-fitness, and
visual appeal, and proposed new concepts that would meet
the needs of all users. By reflecting on the designed product
from the perspective of the users, the designers imagined
what it would be like to use the design.
Through argumentation, the students investigated and
resolved the appropriateness of the forms, the technical
issues, and other concerns, proposing a re-designed
product with improved accessibility.
The workshop provided students a new perspective on
how proper design and simple features differentiate
accessible products from their inaccessible counterparts.
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

Issues in Design course
Students work on projects related to issues of identity, diversity,
sustainability, discrimination, social responsibility...
the goal is to explore ways for designers to make a difference,
to instill the need to understand others, to affect change.
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

EMBRACING DIVERSITY
Design for the magazine COLORS, about global diversity.
Cultural Beauty
© Laerta Prempto’08
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

EMBRACING DIVERSITY
Design for the magazine COLORS, about global diversity.
Sustainability
© Erin Beck’08
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

SUSTAINABILITY CAMPAIGN
Designer as activist, addressing environmental issues
Pollution Kills
© Tomasz Kazmierczak’09
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

SUSTAINABILITY CAMPAIGN
Designer as activist, addressing environmental issues
Tap that water
© Kim Herrmannsdoerfer’09
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

me
my background
my teaching
India
future
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

Designing for Abehypur, India
Designing forKids attending the school
Abehypur, India
Women (mothers who run the households)
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

Designing for Abehypur, India
Kids attending the school
Who is our audience? Women (mothers who run the households)
Who is our audience?
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

the kids at the school
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

and their mothers
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

Visual diagrams and symbols
help to convey a message to a diverse audience, specially when
literacy skills are limited.
Design students created pictograms that show villagers the
importance of:
• Cleanliness
• Respect (using water/solar panel resources appropriately)
• Share (the water with their neighbors)
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

means for communicating
these messages
Developing a graphic symbol for educational campaign
Mural painted on school building wall
Banners communicating each of the main concepts of the
campaign:
Cleanliness + Share + Respect
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

drawing cultural
symbols
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

using the potential peacock
as a symbol for campaign
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

the design evolves as the
students learn more about it
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

© Alison Chin, Matej Svitok, Evelyn Windebank
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

© Kim Dietz, Grace Lee, Laerta Prempto, Jenness Willey
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

using the lotus flower
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

© Jacqueline Minkler, Ashley Kozlosky, Arturo Arroyo
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

meet droppy
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

“What you leave behind is not what
is engraved in stone monuments,
but what is woven into the lives of others.”
Pericles (Ancient Greek Politician, 495 BC-429 BC)
Thank you.
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009

Water for India
Ideation and faculty advising:
Prof. Natacha Poggio
Team members:
Constanza Gowen-Segovia
Ashley Gummelt
Parker Hu
Tomasz Kazmierczak
Alexander Sangeorge
Kim Herrmannsdoerfer
Jacqueline Minkler
DESIGN AS AGENT OF CHANGE - Natacha Poggio, University of Hartford – Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi, 01.16.2009