For the past few months, the Ateneo Business Resource Center has been working with Singapore Polytechnic International in developing their User Experience Center with the collaboration of an ASEAN Regional Consortium considering Ateneo de Manila University, BINUS University, and King Mongkhut University.
In this collaborative effort, the Ateneo Business Resource Center (BRC) team had the incredible opportunity to present our findings and insights at the DT|UX Summit 2023 at Singapore. This presentation was not just in front of any audience, but in front of the legendary Don Norman, the man who is known to have coined the term “user experience” himself!
The event was more than just getting to interact and work with an influential figure, but it was about unveiling a new approach to design thinking — Humanity-Centered Design. This concept resonated deeply, emphasizing the crucial role designers play in tackling global challenges and creating sustainable change.
As human-centered designers, we may be well-versed in empathizing and understanding users so that we might build solutions that maximize value and effectiveness. Now, we take the leap by embracing how our design choices impact the human world on a larger scale. We must shift our focus from designing for individual users to designing for Humanity as a whole — recognizing that we’re not just designing for individuals, we are designing for societies, populations, humanity.
The energy at the DT|UX Summit was palpable, and the chance to learn from Don Norman personally as well as engage with colleagues from all over the ASEAN region, was beyond inspiring. We shared a common design to leverage design for global change, and it reinforced the incredible journey we’re all on.
I would also like to specially thank the Ateneo Business Resource Team with whom I’m sharing this incredible learning experience with. Together, we aim to bring these insights back to the Philippines, influencing both Atenean students and the broader Filipino community.
