Using childhood memories to contribute to a better world

In his doctoral project, Ari Puguh wants to use design methods to unlock people’s childhood memories, to bridge intergenerational gaps and in the long run create a more sustainable society.

Ari Puguh grew up in Indonesia and has worked in the industry in North America, Middle-East and Europe. He has a master’s in design from HDK-Valand – Academy of Art and Design at the University of Gothenburg. His focus at HDK-Valand were social design and child culture design. Social design is about applying design methodologies as a a way to contribute to the social issues, beyond the aesthetic and functional aspects of it.

“You could say social design focuses on addressing complex societal challenges and the impact/contribution that design could contribute to society”, Ari Puguh explains.

In child-culture design, he wants to raise awareness of the power imbalance between grownups and children. Its aim is to reduce this power imbalance by sharing agency with the child in the designing process. This can be achieved through, for example, participatory engagement with and for children, including user tests, workshops, interviews, etc.

Acknowledging power imbalance

“When it comes to working with children and different types of groups, my aim is trying to let go of my title of being a designer. Acknowledging the power imbalance becomes particularly stark when the user is a child. I believe childhood is an important phase in a person’s life. By contributing to a good childhood, designers can contribute to more harmonious adults.”

In his master’s project he collaborated with a child with functional diversity. Together they designed an exploratory game artefact that responds to the child’s interest in gaming, and the child’s concerns and thoughts about the current world.

In his doctoral project, he aims to use participatory design as a method to raise empathy for children and for their present and future well-being.

“I use childhood memorabilia as a means to empathize with younger generations. I believe intergenerational communication is important to create a better society.”

Ari Puguh listen to people's childhood memories to understand what is important in their lives. Photo: Staffan Westerlund

Based on childhood memories

As part of his project, he is currently developing an artefact to activate his project and its aim for a participatory approach. The aim of this sub-project is to create artifacts based on childhood memories. It could include something sensory, such as visual, smells, a recording of a memory, or any other externalization of the memory. The development of the artifacts is made in collaboration with the future participants. The artifact is not the sole purpose of the project. The co-creative design process is a purpose in itself.

Further into the project, Ari aims at having more collaborations and exhibitions in Norrbotten and across Sweden. He would also like to expand the research project and possible exhibitions in Asia. Furtherly, his plan is to also co-create with different generations, including children and adults.

“You could say that my research method is answering questions through design practice. By listening to people’s childhood memories, I get a better understanding of what is important in their lives and their current concerns in this contemporary time. I think that, by the end of the day, we all want the same thing: Safety and a good life. My job/role as a designer is to provide/facilitate people with my knowledge.”

• Read more about the project
• The project is carried through within the framework of LTU ARC