This is where we are clarifying the "problem" and understanding its context as we refine our approach and establish roles and relationships with stakeholders. By reflecting at this phase, we're challenging our assumptions around who to engage and how. We're inviting stakeholders (ideally community leaders) in from the start to shape our methods so that they are sensitive and responsive to each of the communities we will engage.
Consider who within your organization and from the community should be involved in answering questions in this phase.
exploring impacts
Who is likely to be impacted by this “problem” and our eventual solution?
What variations exist within the communitiesthat are impacted? (e.g., which women are more likely to benefit or be harmed?)
Who might be indirectly impacted? How might our process need to adjust to involve them, account for their experiences, and prevent unintended negative consequences that would impact them?
How are our assumptions and biases showing up in our understanding of the problem and who it benefits or harms?
potential outputs
LIST
Who to potentially engage beyond the communities directly impacted
Potential benefits/harms to test through research
Goals, constraints, and metrics for success, including for equity outcomes
Which of these factorsandforces are rooted in evidence (e.g., secondary research, past projects) vs. in assumptions and biases? What subtle nuances should we take into account when applying past learnings?
How can we test our hypotheses about certain factorsandforces? Will this change how we recruit and engage with community members?
How muchpower is our client or leadership willing to share in this process?
What are the existing dynamics between the client / leadership and the communities we hope to involve? Do community members feel there is a foundation of trust?
How can we set clear expectations with our client / leadership around how power will be sharedthroughout the process?
How aligned are our team and internal stakeholders around the approach?
potential outputs
Create
Updated engagement and communication plans
Understand
Role and decision-making power of community members
resources
success metrics
How will we measure our project's success, particularly in terms of equity and intersectionality?
How can we involve community members in defining metrics of success for this project? What matters most to them?
Are we aligned with our client / leadership on metrics of success?
In what potential ways might the metrics of success be in tension with one other? (e.g., financial vs equitable outcomes) How will we address this tension throughout the project?
potential outputs
LIST
Success metrics, including for equity outcomes
Threats to successful equity outcomes
resources
Within Kaleidoscope, we're referring to power sharing as intentional actions to shift, grow, or rebalance power in a specific context. Sharing power challenges the typical dynamics that result from privilege, and may result in a shift of roles and responsibilities. It requires self-awareness and humility in order to avoid being paternalistic.
Within Kaleidoscope, we're referring to impact as the emotional, social, and material results of one’s interaction with products, services, and systems. These effects can be planned, anticipated, or unintended.
Within Kaleidoscope, we're referring to equity/equitable as taking actions that lead to meaningful impact in addressing imbalances that stem from social and systemic oppression, so that individuals and groups can realize more positive outcomes. Equitable approaches require acknowledgement of specific needs and disparities in order to meaningfully improve experiences and outcomes. Consider what equity might look like for your project, given the factors and forces in its context and the communities it's intended to serve.
Within Kaleidoscope, we're referring to inclusion as the process of integrating perspectives and contributions from diverse communities, as well as the qualities and features of a solution that meet the needs of diverse communities. When realized, inclusion will be reflected in participants' felt sense that they have fully participated in, authentically contributed to, and belong in the research/design process, and that their needs are well met by the solution that results from that process.
Within Kaleidoscope, we're referring to impact as the emotional, social, and material results of one’s interaction with products, services, and systems. These effects can be planned, anticipated, or unintended.
Within Kaleidoscope, we're referring to factors and forces as the conditions or systemic structures that influence people’s experiences; these can include institutions, social structures, policies, people, technology, environmental and political factors, as well as individual circumstances that impact one's agency and access.
Within Kaleidoscope, we're referring to communities/community members primarily as the people and groups who will be served or impacted by the product or service you are creating. Although people can share common needs, values, or goals, applying an intersectional lens helps us avoid oversimplification, homogenous labels, and limiting assumptions when we think about groups. (For example, in a group of parents, we would benefit from looking deeper to explore the experiences of mothers, and deeper still to learn about the experiences of mothers of color.) Sometimes you may work directly with community members, and other times you might work with community leaders and advocates who have established trust with the communities your solution is intended to serve.
Within Kaleidoscope, we're referring to marginalized voices/perspectives as the perspectives and beliefs of people that are not historically and systematically included, respected, or empowered.
Within Kaleidoscope, responsive describes approaches that consider and take action in light of the unique needs, beliefs, and experiences of different individuals and groups. This includes but isn’t limited to accessibility accommodations and culturally-responsive and trauma-informed practices.
Within Kaleidoscope, valuing describes acknowledging people’s contributions of time and expertise through appreciation, material compensation, and actions (e.g., naming them as contributors, hiring them for a formal role, etc.) It is important to be sensitive in how participants are valued; communicate with them in advance to ensure they will be valued in appropriate ways based on their individual circumstances and to request their consent.
Within Kaleidoscope, we're referring to engage/engagements as inviting individuals or groups external to the immediate project team into the research and/or design process; types of engagement can range from consultation to methods that prioritize collaboration and sharing power (i.e., intentional actions to shift, grow, or rebalance power).
Within Kaleidoscope, context refers to the environment or situation in which a product or service is used, as well as the broader domain in which it exists (e.g., accessing primary care in a rural area, which sits within the broader domain of healthcare.) Defining the context enables us to examine the dynamic factors and forces within it (including social structures, institutions, political factors, policies, people, technology, and personal circumstances, etc) that influence the experiences of individuals and groups differently.
Within Kaleidoscope, intersectionality describes how socially-constructed categories (such as race, class, gender, sexuality, ability, etc.) are interconnected and compound (i.e., have a multiplying, not additive, effect) to shape an individual's experiences and outcomes. This interconnection produces unique experiences of advantage and disadvantage, privilege and oppression, and contributes to societal patterns of inequity.
Within Kaleidoscope, we're referring to safe/safety as conditions in which people feel they can participate, express themselves, and share their perspectives without fear of retribution or negative consequences.
Within Kaleidoscope, we're referring to identity as the many socially-constructed categories that are used to describe individuals and groups. These can include, but are not limited to, ability, age, appearance, education, ethnicity, gender, income, language, location, nationality, neurodiversity, occupation, race, relationships, religion, sexuality, and socioeconomic status. Identity can be fluid and change over time or in relation to others, with the various aspects of identity having more or less meaning to individuals as they move through different contexts and cultures.
Within Kaleidoscope, we're referring to identity as the many socially-constructed categories that are used to describe individuals and groups. These can include, but are not limited to, ability, age, appearance, education, ethnicity, gender, income, language, location, nationality, neurodiversity, occupation, race, relationships, religion, sexuality, and socioeconomic status. Identity can be fluid and change over time or in relation to others, with the various aspects of identity having more or less meaning to individuals as they move through different contexts and cultures.
Within Kaleidoscope, we're referring to culturally-responsive practices as intentional approaches that prioritize an awareness of and accommodations made in light of an individual’s or group’s beliefs, language, norms, characteristics, attitudes, values, traditions, way of life, worldview, and experiences.
