Thoughtless Acts: Skate the Streets
Human-centered design requires us to observe human behavior with beginner's eyes, so that we can spot the innate ways people interact with the world around them. We call these intuitive and unconscious reactions Thoughtless Acts, and IDEO designers collect photos of them to inspire their work.
A few years ago, I traveled to Amsterdam in the wintertime. Amsterdam is famous for having rivers flow through its streets, but this winter, the rivers were frozen and they became new roads. Simultaneously, people took advantage of the sudden change and switched to an alternative form of transportation (ice skating!). One person’s thoughtless act can attract other people and become a sort of movement when other people start to join.
Eri is a researcher who thrives on enabling play in everyday life. You'll usually find her somewhere sunny with her 2 year old son, plotting her next prank like putting eyes on street signs and everyday objects to create moments of unexpected delight.