You are invited to the 1st Social Design Clinic: Generating ideas on spot, Friday October 23, 2015 at 3:00 pm EAT
Makerere University, School of Public Health – ResilientAfrica Network (RAN) has launched a new platform; “The Social Design Clinic” that targets Arts, Humanities, Behavioral and Social Scientists. We would like to see the power of communication, art, fashion, music, drama in changing the face of innovation and to keep these disciplines in constant communication with science and engineering disciplines. For so long we have seen technology, science, engineering disciplines dominate Innovation spaces during Exhibitions, Hackathons, Fairs, design garages, boot camps to mention but afew. In the Human centered design approach we appreciate the need to understand human complex behavior, to deeply immerse ourselves in the problem and be able to identify insights and opportunities by studying human behavior. When we synthesize findings from studying human behavior we are able to identify areas of opportunity for innovation taking into consideration the culture and needs of people living in the community.
The Social Design Clinic is a great platform for us to brainstorm brilliant ideas and interventions that address pressing social issues to change the way we perceive the world, to explore traditional forms of visual, storybook or performing arts. To explore innovative art and social science approaches, techniques and projects that meaningfully engage with issues of communication, advocacy, justice, community peace building, gender and sexual violence etc. bearing in mind that we can use visual, conceptual art, photography, new social media, video, dance, theater, performance art, music, creative writing, documentaries that raise awareness about public health consequences and detrimental social impact.
We wish to encourage innovations such as artworks that might take the form of music, dance, meals, media talk shows, films, street performances, story telling, urban planning basing on the premise that socially engaged art can ignite outrage and demands for change, advocates for the need for change, explore new forms of social practice that engages communities in an interactive exchange and provide a platform for reflection, collaboration, civic responsibility, community engagement and building peaceful communities.
This month; We would like to examine the Theme – “The role of Social Media in promoting Sexual Reproductive Health Behavior. How can we harness social media to promote positive sexual reproductive health behavior? Given that social media has been penetrated by black hackers who use it to promote profanity, indecency and to front negative role models and agendas, How can we turn it around and use it constructively to promote and encourage positive behavior?
Come and be part of an exciting debate that generates innovative social innovations in real-time. We are inviting Faculty/Lecturers, Research Scholars, Students, Innovators, Community from all disciplines. The Social Design Clinic embraces multi-disciplinary Teams realizing that each discipline contributes significantly to innovation. This is a great platform where the next paradigm changers will emerge. We are creating an opportunity for you to imagine creative ideas that will solve community challenges using social lenses to analyze problems where solutions are framed in a way that fits within cultural norms and social context of the target audience.
We look forward to your participation.