Students were asked to work in teams of four (or more) researching and generating data for a public space. Their objective was to observe, record phenomena and study the environment of the chosen public space utilizing the AEIOU framework, in order to generate a set of data about the chosen public space. Afterwards, as a team, the students would organize and filter all of their findings, and design a piece that reflected on the data that they have gathered. Students were encouraged to identify patterns, phenomena, personas etc. and make sure that they tell us a story about their chosen subject.
* AEIOU is a coding structure mnemonic used to organize data under the following sections: Activities, Environments, Interactions, Objects and Users. The framework can be applied as-is or customized and adapted into a new taxonomy. In both cases, the goal of using this framework is to make interpreting and analyzing data easier, while visually mapping the significant relationships and interactions between categories.
Activities: includes actions with specific goals in mind, and the processes performed to achieve them.
Environments: details the context and characteristics of the space where activities are being observed.
Interactions: includes both interpersonal and person-artifact interactions. Proximity and space may also play an important role within these relationships.
Objects: catalogues the items within the environment and how they are used. It is important to note both the central and peripheral uses of objects and how people harness them to conduct their activities.
Users: includes the people within the environment that are being observed. Key information includes their values and biases, behaviors, needs and relationships.
AEIOU can be used in-field as worksheets or be applied later to code data collected from other ethnographic or observational methods, including notes, photos, and interviews. Advantages: good for recording observations and small details; creates a visual map of activities; can assist in uncovering latent needs, workarounds and unspoken behaviors.
Students: Danielle Cervelli, Arnold Lack, Rachel Poland and Julia Schuler
Students: Alicia Windisch, James Angeletti, Spencer Cadman and Hannah Kim
Students: Hannah Piemonte, Peyton Fandel, Chabela Fuentes and David Niccolai