The Contribution of Design Thinking Tools in Promoting a Visual Approach to Social Research

In the context of contemporary social research, the design thinking approach provides visual and participatory tools for understanding social and cultural dynamics at micro and macro sociological levels. This approach, which actively engages participants in idea generation and problem-solving activities, produces as output visual materials, such as conceptual maps, sketches, prototypes, and graphic representations that provide deep insights into practices and narratives of the participants to their involvement in participatory activities.

Our contribution intends to explore how the results of participatory sessions can be considered as testimonies reflecting the cultural and social changes the participants as a group intend to enable. On the one hand, through the analysis of materials produced during these sessions, such as graphic diagrams, storyboards, wireframes, etc. we can gain insights into participants’ perceptions, experiences, and group dynamics. Additionally, design thinking presents itself as an active method for producing visual evidence, integrating drawing and graphic design into the research process, making visible the thoughts and problem-solving strategies of participants. A classification of the different visual tools based on their role in design and in social research, and the evidence produced is operated.

Finally, this contribution discusses the potential of the outputs of design thinking sessions in the communication of social research results, envisioning a future in which visualizations generated during participatory processes can complement traditional channels and materials. Drawings, system maps, and graphic prototypes can not only make research findings more accessible, but also provide an alternative narrative that captures the complexity of the social issues being studied.

In conclusion, the contribution intends to emphasize how some skills traditionally associated with designers and creatives, should be more and more considered also by social researchers, strengthening their ability to read social complex phenomena and widening the set of visual instruments used to gather and analyze data.