Class 2.6 of the PDC+++

What does observing consist of?& Why are we so bad at it?

Observation is fundamental to any design & goes far beyond looking at something carefully.

We involve all of our communication channels in a systemic & sistematic way, in good prolonged observation.

In this class we study in depth the clients interview & other observation techniques & tools.

Class2.6 PDC+++

What does observing consist of?& Why are we so bad at it?

Plato's CaveWild DesignMore Observation TechniquesClient InterviewThe Quadrants

Thinking/Reflection

Act

Observe

Design

1 D e sign

=

m any

cycle s

o f D e sign

Why

Class2.6 PDC+++

What does observing consist of?& Why are we so bad at it?

Plato's CaveWild DesignMore Observation TechniquesClient InterviewThe Quadrants

Plato

"Real philosophers are those who love contemplating truth"

Aristotle

"Civilization is the victory

of persuasion over force"

384 a.C428 a.C

The First Academy388 a.C

Academus - Dedicated to investigating & deepening knowledge

Socrates470 a.C

6

Allegory 

Plato's Cavern

6

Plato's Cavern

Allegory the material / sensual world (known through the senses) & the world of ideas (which can only be known by the use of reason)

6

Plato's Cavern

Allegory the material / sensual world (known through the senses) & the world of ideas (which can only be known by the use of reason)

GENERAL & PARTICULAR:The ethics (not only a vision, they are

also criteria)

Sustainability (PermaCulture)

The Directives

The Principles (attitude, ecological, of design)

Interview of all Clients

OBSERVATION (surroundings, time, budget ..)

Your personal criteria

ve ry cle ar

C RITERIA

90% of mistakes are caused by errors of 

OBSERVATION

.. & 60% of our incoming information is visual

OBSERVATION

(some famous examples)

Check with your own eyes ...

A young woman or an old woman?

A female face or a musician with a trombone?

An Eskimo or the head of an Indian?

Where is the kissing couple?

Are the red circles the same size?

Are the gray lines horizontal & parallel?

Are AB & BC equal?

There seem to be gray dots that in reality do not exist

Are the two shapes the same height?

Do you see the window from below or above?

Move forward & back looking at the central dot

A cube with strange sides

Two columns or three columns?

Spiral or independent circles?

Focuse on the central dot & the fog will start to disappear

How many paws on the Elephant?

CONCLUSION

Do not always trust what you think you see ...

90% of errors are caused by errors of observation

.. And 60% of our incoming information is visual

90% of errors are caused by errors of observation

NASA Investigation

Verifiable in your daily life?

Or interpretation of what we observe

This model says that 90% occupied by patterns (= "rigid programs" or our 'movies')

DIRECTIVE 1 OF PC: Take full responsibility for our

lives

¿coincidence?

"The look the human being has, in principle, the characteristics of

predators.Only see ahead. His area of blindness is

very large.Learn to see as hares and to hear the

sound of colors.That is the most exciting

metamorphosis "

Manuel Rivas

Class2.6 PDC+++

What does observing consist of?& Why are we so bad at it?

Plato's CaveWild DesignMore Observation TechniquesClient InterviewThe Quadrants

1 D ise o = ñm ucho s

ciclo s

d e D ise oñ

Cicle 1: Auto-observación

Thinking/Reflection

Act

Observe

Design

First make your "Free Design" / instinctive / "crazy" / wild

! Try it with more people in a short time and using rich 

colors!

It helps us to "self-observe" and raise the awareness of our patterns, 

motivations and unconscious processes

And to make "room" in our mind for the next phase of the 

observation

Class2.6 PDC+++

What does observing consist of?& Why are we so bad at it?

Plato's CaveWild DesignMore Observation TechniquesClient InterviewThe Quadrants

1 D e sign =

m any d e sign

cycle s

Observation: external parts

Thinking/Reflection

Act

Observe

Design

First do your "Wild Design"

First do your "Wild Design"

First do your "Wild Design"

First do your "Wild Design"

& only after lots of time to think, try things, cuestion everything ... design the DESIGN! (HOW is the best way to

design in THIS situation??

First do your "Wild Design"

O b se rve W ith all the se nse s

b lind walking

o ne d ay as a d um b /d e af p e rso n

clo se , clo se r and clo se r still ...

lo o king fo r p atte rns

asking the fairie s ...

Class2.6 PDC+++

What does observing consist of?& Why are we so bad at it?

Plato's CaveWild DesignMore Observation TechniquesClient InterviewThe Quadrants

1 D e sign =

lo ts o f

d e sign cycle s

Observation: internal collective

Thinking/Reflection

Act

Observe

Design

C usto m e rs?

All p e o p le

and any o the r cre ature s affe cte d b y the d e sign

co nsid e r b o th sho rt and lo ng te rm

That the y can ge t invo lve d in the d e sign o r no t ..

If p o ssib le ... im p o rtant that the y fe e l invo lve d fro m the b e g inning

(to ge t a se lf-re gulate d syste m )

Eg. im p ortant to ge t full o p inio ns o f ch ild re n / sp o use 's /

ne ighb o rs ... e tc.

in o rd e r to avo id b o yco tts ...

Ad ap t (D e sign) Fo r d iffe re nt custo m e rs

Yo u will usually have th ings like :

Pe rso nal (age , fam ily, re latio nsh ip s, ch ild re n, e ld e rly,

p ro file s ...)

C o m m unity (co ntacts, frie nd s, ne ts, o rgs., M afias,

b arte r, ...)

Life style (culture , fo o d , he alth, le isure , re lig io n ...)

Future (d re am s, go als, p lans, ho p e s, ...)

C ap acity (skills, kno wle d ge , craftsm ansh ip , p ro fe ssio n, who

kno ws what ...)

Pe o p le C are

... and o the r cre ature s (C aring fo r the Earth)

fo rm al and info rm al

N o te we ll the p re fe re nce s o f Anim als (wild and

d o m e stic)

o b se rve (info rm al), O b se rve (fo rm al), O BSERVE

(q ue stio n e ve ryth ing)

BO RRO W the e ye s (e ars, sm e ll, to uch, e tc..) o f

o the rs

The Lad d e r o f Particip atio n

1 . M anip ulatio n

2 . The rap y

3. Info rm ar

4. C o nsultar

5 . Placatio n

6. Partne rsh ip

7. D e le gate d Po we r

8. C itiz e n C o ntro l

M U ST le arn to liste n

we ll ... w ith o p e n,

q ue stio ns,

no njud gm e ntal,

sup p o rtive attitud e

and acce p tance ,

TIM E, ETC .

Non participative. The aim is to cure or educate the participants that the proposed plan,  without any input, is best. This is about public relations. A necessary first 

step to legitimate participation, but too often the emphasis is on a one way flow of information with no feedback

A legitimate step - attitude surveys, neighbourhood meetings and public enquiries, but is this just window dressing?

Loading committees with handpicked worthies. A talking shop giving power holders  a veto over advice and decisions

Power is redistributed through negotiation between citizens and power holders. Planning and decision-making responsibilities are shared e.g. through joint committees Citizens holding a clear 

majority of seats on committees, with delegated powers to make decisions. Public now has the power to assure program accountability to them

Have-nots handle the entire job of planning, policymaking and managing a program with their own source of funds

"eg. me with my great idea:  "I have a design"..

Class2.6 PDC+++

What does observing consist of?& Why are we so bad at it?

Plato's CaveWild DesignMore Observation TechniquesClient InterviewThe Quadrants

1 D e sign =

lo ts o f

d e sign cycle s

Observation of the Whole

Thinking/Reflection

Act

Observe

Design

Individual Interior Exterior Individual

Interior CollectiveExterior Collective

Vision

Mission

Motivations

Systems

Wild Design

Class 2.6 of the PDC+++

What does observing consist of?& Why are we so bad at it?

Observation is fundamental to any design & goes far beyond looking at something carefully.

We involve all of our communication channels in a systemic & sistematic way, in good prolonged observation.

In this class we study in depth the clients interview & other observation techniques & tools.