Statement of Values
In conjunction with our Desk Research, we produced a statement of values and beliefs to develop a consistent approach and set of goals amongst the team members.
Close readers will notice a direction towards legislation and social awareness at this early stage of the project which obviously did not translate literally into the final result (although elements of this intention can be seen in the emphasis on personal responsibility).
Instead of viewing this session as a mandate for the design process, the value we gained was a better understanding of our perceptions of the problem and its potential solutions, and an alignment of values and potential goals amongst the team members.
While not necessarily a practical step in the service design process for every project, we found this session useful in the Fresh Start project because of the participants' differing social, cultural, and professional backgrounds, and because of the momentum we developed from discovering common goals and perspectives despite these differences.
Our approach to this project rests on the following beliefs:
- Obesity is a symptom exhibited by society and therefore must be examined in light of this larger context.
- Obesity is a complex issue involving a network of contributing factors that no single solution can solve, but perhaps a network of solutions can address.
- Little changes applied in the right circumstances can make big differences.
- A successful solution must be a lasting solution.
- Long-term progress cannot be sacrificed to short-term gains.
- A successful solution will be designed such that it does not adversely affect other areas of society.
- Solutions must be personalized and humanized.
- Solutions may be complex and involved, but their interaction with people must be simple and understandable, or at least perceived as being so.
- A successful solution will not only provide information about change, but provide the tools to enable change.
- Obesity is an issue that affects a commons, and it must be dealt with in ways that leverage this commons.
- A successful solution will probably contain fundamental tenets that can be applied in different circumstances to effect positive change.
- Solutions will probably be multi-dimensional and involve areas which at first may not seem directly connected to obesity but can be used to affect obesity.
- Solutions will probably be multi-faceted and involve a balance and synergy between a variety of elements, such as enabling people through education and providing options, and passing legislation that effects positive change.
- A successful solution will result in recognition of obesity as a social issue and a natural push for legislation recognizing obesity's social impact.
Given the above beliefs, our solution will have to encompass both the individual and society, focusing specifically on the interrelationships and transactions between the two.
By making people aware of their role within society and the contributions they can make to both themselves and society we can address one of the underlying causes of obesity. We believe this awareness can be effected by reviving the idea of citizenship and by highlighting the responsibility citizenship demands of the individual.
An additional benefit of focusing on citizenship is that this concept can be applied to other symptoms of society, such as pollution and poverty.
Obesity is a symptom
We believe that obesity is a symptom exhibited by a sick society.
Traditionally, western medicine has focused on treating symptoms, while eastern medicine has focused on causes. For example, western medicine would proscribe Tylenol for a headache to relieve its symptoms, while eastern medicine might proscribe acupuncture on your foot to resolve the cause of the headache. Our position can be viewed as an eastern approach to the problem of obesity.
We believe the underlying causes of obesity lie outside the immediate problem of obesity and that solutions to the problem of obesity will come from identifying and addressing those underlying causes.
In the course of discovering and treating these underlying causes, we can perhaps build a model that can be applied to other ills within society, such as poverty and pollution. However, any such model would be implicit within an effective treatment of obesity and is therefore not a departure or a distraction from our goal of resolving the obesity problem.
Citizenship
We believe a lasting solution will involve the concept of personal citizenship. That is, a recognition of the individual's part within the larger context of society.
We believe that the increased focus on individual rights has eroded the concept of good citizenship and the value it places on the health of society. For example, society focuses on the right to buy an SUV, but neglects the vehicle's impact on pollution, quality of life, and traffic density.
We aim to reintroduce the importance of citizenship and reaffirm the balance between personal rights and the responsibility everyone has towards society.
The Commons
In hand with the idea of citizenship is the idea of a commons. Pollution affects the air we all breathe, the water we all drink.
Obesity affects a commons as well, which we tentatively identify as health care. Obesity-related health problems negatively impact a health service that we all share. People and resources that could be used elsewhere are instead directed towards treating obesity-related illnesses that are fundamentally preventable given the right diet and exercise regimen.
By looking at the commons, we are defining the larger sphere within which citizenship operates, which in turn can help us understand the problems of obesity and identify potential solutions.
Motivation
It is not enough to simply inform people about the issues related to obesity. We must also enable people by providing them with tools they can use to act on this information.
Handing someone a pamphlet may address a person's need for knowledge, but the pamphlet fails as a solution if a support structure does not exist to help that person act upon this knowledge.
Motivation is a crucial link between knowledge and action. We recognize that a structure designed to help people act upon their knowledge must also provide sufficient motivational support to encourage the long-term sustainability of the structure.
Knowledge and legislation
We believe that a lasting solution will tap both individuals and society. It will rely on individuals as sources of active and interested participation. It will involve society in the form of legislation and regulation.
Ideally, legislation will result out of individuals being active and interested. That is, we may need to plant a seed encouraging legislation and regulation, but individuals and groups would perform the actual work because they see it as being beneficial for themselves and for society.
Simply put, we do not see a solution as consisting solely of legislation or solely of knowledge dissemination; rather, it is the combination of the two on an individual and social level that will effect lasting and meaningful change.
Systems thinking
If we accept that obesity is a social problem, we cannot therefore allow an obesity solution to trade success within the field of obesity with failure or harm within other areas of society.
An example of a poor solution is Slim Fast. Slim Fast is a diet beverage that can be used as a meal substitute. Although it may be successful at helping people lose weight, it may also contribute to poor habits, such as not eating breakfast, and perhaps even dangerous behavior, such as eating while driving.
The short-term gain of losing weight is therefore coupled with long-term losses. Slim Fast can thus be seen as a failure under our criteria for success because of its harm to other areas of society. Pushing additional problems onto other social problem areas as a byproduct of a solution to obesity is unacceptable, and our solution would strive to avoid this situation, or at least mitigate any potentially long-term damages.
Criteria for success
- Our solution encourages systems thinking within the user and takes advantages of existing systems when possible.
- Our solution provides a foundation of information and knowledge, as well as tools for taking action.
- Our solution encourages citizenship and an awareness of an individual's responsibility within the commons.