Learn about work done by SCAD student Zara DSouza. Her design thinking skills gives her the ability to strategize in design and also facilitate workshops.

“Good design is obvious.
Great design is transparent.”

Joe Sparano, Designer & Teacher at UW

Preview Image.png — Helping Designers
To Not Burnout

Independent Study
Market Analysis
Double Diamond
Remote Design Research
Remote Creative Workshop Facilitation
Empathy Maps
Personas
Design Criteria
Concept Exploration
Prototype Testing
Branding
Content Development
Business Model
Real World Solution Adaptation

Synopsis

For my final project as part of my graduate degree at SCAD, I had to independently propose a design problem that I wanted to work on for a six month period.

The first three months was involved in researching the problem and proposing the topic to a committee.

Post this phase, the next three months was spent in contextual research, analysis and solution development through the process of design thinking.

Having managed designers in the past and worked along side various designers in my graduate program, I have encountered cases of burnout in designers. The purpose of my study is to understand how factors of environment, processes and emotion play a role in the needs and pain points of designers who are unable to perform in their tasks as a result of burn out.

The study helped identify a strategic yet subtle tool to identify designers slipping down a slope of burnout.

MY ROLE AND CONTRIBUTION.jpeg — My Role

The project was done **independently**.
The entire process was managed and executed solely by me.
All parts of design research, synthesis and analysis was carried out **remotely and in isolation during periods of the pandemic lockdown**.
In order to incorporate feedback, iteration and refining, creative online **workshops were facilitated using online digital** tools such as slack, miro, google slides.

Problem Statement

Burnout is a severe problem affecting professionals in occupational environments. In severe cases, burnout can cause diminished executive functioning, attention and memory. Burnout has many organizational consequences including absenteeism, increased turnover, and decreased job performance. (Scott, E. 2019, December 5)

Burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment that can occur among individuals who work with people in some capacity.

There is an opportunity to help designers who are stuck creatively or feeling demotivated and discouraged to perform tasks, identify and acknowledge that they may be suffering from a burnout and then enable to change their mindset.