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Designing with Information and Empathy: Delivering Human Information to Designers

This paper detailed research by McGinley into information and empathy resources to support people-centred design. It was published in a special edition of The Design Journal, an INT1-rated journal in the European Reference Index for the Humanities. The paper reported on the concept of information and empathy combinations and detailed a case study in which the author undertook the role of lead researcher. The reported case study was the design of safer drinks vessels for the UK pub industry, a project commissioned by the Home Office and managed by the Design Council.

The case study reported on the process undertaken to explore glass-related assaults. Human information resources (i.e. mixed-media outputs, including reports, video and interactive software) were created to communicate the range of perspectives and insights obtained through design ethnography methods. The research was used by a design consultancy commissioned to re-design the pint glass, leading to a new concept that was developed and trialled in UK bars.

McGinley and Caroline Till also wrote an accompanying publication that consolidated findings based on four months of research into alcohol-related violence. Design Out Crime: Using Design to Reduce Injuries from Alcohol-Related Violence in Pubs and Clubs (2010) was published by the Design Council and launched alongside resulting designs by the Home Secretary at the Design Council. The project received national media coverage and featured extensively in the national press (e.g. BBC News, Guardian, Metro, Daily Mail, Creative Review)

Further to this work, McGinley was invited to become a ‘design ambassador’ for the Design Council’s ‘Keeping Connected’ Design Challenge (2011), which engaged high-school students with older communities. McGinley was also invited to present his work at Central Saint Martins Service Design Summer School (2012).