My research question was “How can design reveal and raise awareness about cultural impacts of gentrification (and encourage people to take action to keep Dalston inclusive)?”
Over three years, I explored how design could be used as a method to research gentrification, and to communicate about it.
How can design act as a research method to investigate how Dalston is gentrifying?
- mapping of quantitative evidence of trendy shops and bars to identify and demonstrate that the area is changing
- secondary research how graphic design can be used to elicit community views about gentrification and involve them in local decision making
- a semiotic visual analysis of objects and typography in cafes to understand how gentrifying groups are socially distinguishing themselves (which provided insight into visual strategies they were using and provide insight in how to communicate with them)
- participatory photo research with eight Dalston residents who have documented things that make them feel included in and excluded from change, understanding how people make sense of what they see in an area
- experimentation with using designed artefacts (using firstly prompt cards and maps and then content from the photographic research) to continue learning about people’s responses to gentrification (including generate community ideas for how to keep Dalston inclusive)
How can design act as a communication tool to articulate how the area is changing and prompt people to act more responsibly?
- information design to present the mapped information in a way that persuaded businesses to sign up to be part of Dalston Bridge
- the designed artefacts above also functions to raise awareness of what is happening and give longer-term residents a voice and – most importantly – generate community ideas for how to keep Dalston inclusive
- synthesise my findings (how people feel about gentrification, how to communicate with a middle-class audience) to create short a publication aimed at gentrifiers and prompting them to do some of the co-designed ideas to keep Dalston inclusive.
dalstonconnections.wordpress.com 