UX for social good: Lessons from rural Japan
At a moment when AI is reshaping the UX industry and many designers are questioning their future, we ran an experiment in rural Japan. Talented UX practitioners from around the world were invited to step away from their screens and visit the seaside town of Shimoda – a town facing an aging population, declining tourism, and digital exclusion. Using field research and service design techniques, the goal was to explore whether UX could meaningfully contribute to local revitalization efforts.
Working in low-tech environments with cultural and logistical barriers challenged many assumptions about how UX should be practiced. Yet the experience proved transformative. By applying UX techniques outside corporate settings, designers built trust, surfaced deeply human problems, and realized new possibilities.
At a moment when AI is reshaping the UX industry and many designers are questioning their future, we ran an experiment in rural Japan. Talented UX practitioners from around the world were invited to step away from their screens and visit the seaside town of Shimoda – a town facing an aging population, declining tourism, and digital exclusion. Using field research and service design techniques, the goal was to explore whether UX could meaningfully contribute to local revitalization efforts.
Working in low-tech environments with cultural and logistical barriers challenged many assumptions about how UX should be practiced. Yet the experience proved transformative. By applying UX techniques outside corporate settings, designers built trust, surfaced deeply human problems, and realized new possibilities.
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