Short answer

Integrate personal reflection and an understanding of temporal lived experience into the design process to create more meaningful and effective outcomes.

Field
Classic Design
Source
Summit (Simon Fraser University) (2015)
Method
Autobiographical research and autoethnography, employing the 'currere' method.
Evidence
Moderate effect

Understanding curriculum design requires a deep exploration of the lived experiences of both designers and users, moving beyond technical implementation to embrace personal and contextual dimensions. This classic design research insight is drawn from a 2015 study published in Summit (Simon Fraser University). Using Autobiographical research and autoethnography, employing the 'currere' method., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Integrate personal reflection and an understanding of temporal lived experience into the design process to create more meaningful and effective outcomes.

Study
Classic DesignHigh ImpactModerate effect

Curriculum Design as Lived Experience: A Biographically Situated Approach

Understanding curriculum design requires a deep exploration of the lived experiences of both designers and users, moving beyond technical implementation to embrace personal and contextual dimensions.

Summit (Simon Fraser University) · 2015

01

Key Findings

  • 01Curriculum design can be understood as a process deeply intertwined with the designer's lived experience and their 'being-in-the-world'.
  • 02The 'currere' method offers a framework for self-conceptualization that can lead to a richer, more contextualized understanding of design.
  • 03Traditional technical approaches to curriculum design can neglect the temporal and experiential aspects of teaching and learning.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Integrate personal reflection and an understanding of temporal lived experience into the design process to create more meaningful and effective outcomes.

How to apply

Before embarking on a design project, spend time reflecting on your own past experiences related to the problem or user group. Consider how these personal narratives shape your understanding and potential solutions.

Project actions

  • 01Consider using personal anecdotes or reflections as part of your design process documentation.
  • 02Explore how your own background influences your design choices and biases.
03

Method & Evidence

AimHow can autobiographical exploration and the method of 'currere' re-conceptualize the practice of curriculum design by integrating lived experience with theoretical understanding?
MethodAutobiographical research and autoethnography, employing the 'currere' method.
ProcedureThe author used 'currere,' a method of self-conceptualization, to explore his personal experiences as a curriculum designer. This involved four phases: regressive, progressive, analytical, and synthetical, to re-conceptualize curriculum design through the lens of lived experience.
ContextEducational design, curriculum development, and design theory.

Variables

IVThe method of 'currere' and autobiographical exploration.
DVRe-conceptualized understanding of curriculum design; designer's self-conceptualization.
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Deeply personal and reflective approach to understanding design.
  • +Introduces a qualitative, experiential dimension to design theory.

Limitations

Your personal experiences might not represent the experiences of all potential users, so be careful not to overgeneralize.

Reliability & validity

Reliability and validity in this context are subjective and based on the coherence and depth of the autobiographical narrative and its interpretation, rather than objective, repeatable measurements.

Think critically

To what extent can a designer's personal 'lived experience' be considered a universal or representative basis for design decisions, and what are the risks of relying too heavily on it?

05

Design Principles

"Design practice should acknowledge and actively incorporate the subjective, temporal, and biographical context of both the designer and the user."

This perspective challenges traditional, purely technical approaches to design by emphasizing the subjective and temporal nature of creation. It suggests that effective design solutions emerge from a rich understanding of the designer's own journey and the context in which the design will be enacted.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Think about your own life experiences when you design something. How has your past affected how you see the problem and what you want to create?

How to use in your project

  • 1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of personal reflection and lived experience in your design process.
  • 2.Use the 'currere' concept as a framework for your own reflective practice within your design project.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The practice of design, particularly in areas like curriculum development, can be significantly enriched by incorporating autobiographical reflection and the concept of 'currere'. This approach, as explored by Halvorson (2015), emphasizes understanding design not merely as a technical act but as a deeply personal and contextualized experience. By engaging with one's own lived experiences, designers can gain profound insights that inform more meaningful and relevant solutions, moving beyond purely functional considerations to embrace the temporal and subjective dimensions of creation.

09

Source

Summit (Simon Fraser University)

Curriculum design as being-in-the-world of study and teaching: An autobiographical re-conceptualization

journal · 2015

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about curriculum design as lived experience: a biographically situated approach?
Integrate personal reflection and an understanding of temporal lived experience into the design process to create more meaningful and effective outcomes. Evidence: Summit (Simon Fraser University) (2015).
Why does "Curriculum Design as Lived Experience: A Biographically Situated Approach" matter for design?
This perspective challenges traditional, purely technical approaches to design by emphasizing the subjective and temporal nature of creation. It suggests that effective design solutions emerge from a rich understanding of the designer's own journey and the context in which the design will be enacted.
How can designers apply this research?
Integrate personal reflection and an understanding of temporal lived experience into the design process to create more meaningful and effective outcomes.
What were the main findings?
Curriculum design can be understood as a process deeply intertwined with the designer's lived experience and their 'being-in-the-world'.. The 'currere' method offers a framework for self-conceptualization that can lead to a richer, more contextualized understanding of design.. Traditional technical approaches to curriculum design can neglect the temporal and experiential aspects of teaching and learning.
What research method was used?
Autobiographical research and autoethnography, employing the 'currere' method..
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2015 journal from Summit (Simon Fraser University).
What should I do differently in my next project?
Before embarking on a design project, spend time reflecting on your own past experiences related to the problem or user group. Consider how these personal narratives shape your understanding and potential solutions.
What are the limitations?
The findings are deeply personal and may not be directly generalizable to all design contexts without adaptation.