FROM DISMISSAL TO ADOPTION: EXAMINING AND VISUALIZING STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVE-TAKING IN DESIGN
Engineering design requires effective stakeholder perspective-taking (SPT), a process in which designers actively consider and integrate the viewpoints of stakeholders into their design decisions. This is especially important in design processes aimed at addressing community needs, as it ensures that solutions are relevant, inclusive, and responsive to those affected. To gain a deeper understanding of how SPT functions in design settings and what it may reveal about individuals and teams, we conducted an observational study with seven participants, organized into three teams. Each team was presented with the perspectives of six community stakeholders and tasked with proposing a solution to a specific problem during a 30-minute recorded session. We analyzed the recorded sessions and identified 89 distinct instances of SPT, which reflected how participants engaged with stakeholder viewpoints in their decision-making. These instances were categorized into six levels, representing a spectrum that ranged from dismissing stakeholder input to fully adopting and integrating it into their design process and decisions. To further explore these patterns, we introduce the concept of SPT Signatures, which are graphical representations of how individuals and groups represent stakeholder perspectives during design work. The SPT Signatures revealed variations across different groups and individuals, suggesting that multiple factors may influence how stakeholders’ perspectives are considered and represented. Ultimately, these findings lay the groundwork for future research that investigates how designers navigate multiple viewpoints in the design process. By understanding how and when certain perspectives are prioritized or overlooked, we can better inform practices that promote more inclusive, community-centered design solutions.
