Design Challenge
#3: How might we learn from COVID-19 to reimagine our future for life, work, learning and play?
Project Description
COVID-19 has impacted our lives in many different ways than we could imagine. From the way we learn (school and education), the way we work and operate (job and business), to the way we live our daily lives (social life and physical interactions), we have been introduced to changes, in one way or another, even more so with the current circuit breaker in place, adapting and adjusting our lives to embrace the changes and challenges that the pandemic has brought about. While Singapore currently ‘lives’ in the circuit breaker, with the most of us staying at home, each and everyone of us has our own stories, journey and experiences – pre-COVID-19, during COVID-19, and wishes and aspirations for post COVID-19.
Criteria #1: Value
While Singapore currently ‘lives’ in the circuit breaker, with the most of us staying at home, each and everyone of us has our stories – pre-COVID-19, during COVID-19, and wishes and aspirations for post COVID-19.
Just like in the Design Thinking phase, the stories would bring about deeper understanding of the various users and personas and provide a voice for them. I, for one, was travelling to China till mid-Jan 2020 pre-COVID-19 (or when it was then known as ‘Wuhan virus’), or rather pre-Circuit Breaker. How about the journey and experience of those who are awaiting their test results for COVID-19 or those who are in Stay Home Notices?
These are all human lives – not just case number that are reported – and stories to be told.
Criteria #2: Inspiration
Inspired by reading and hearing of personal stories, these voices should be captured as memories, life experiences and lessons for current generation and generation to come.
It is akin to knowing more about Singapore history through the stories shared by my grandparents and the elders.
A voice, that we are all in this together, that we are not alone – unity, resilience, solidarity would be what bring us together and get through this pandemic together.
Criteria #3: Impact
Building and creating awareness and sharing and learning of insights and perspectives to the COVID-19 would shed more light into the various situations and circumstances.
With each story, each pain point, each challenge, each change, these are opportunities, chances and windows to address – follow-up action.
Say someone’s story is that he lost his job, the opportunity would be to supplement his income / cashflow to get him through these times.
Say another one’s story is a COVID-19 patient (source: CNA) that she is feeling socially dis-connected, even though she is digitally connected, the opportunity would be to link them up with ‘buddy’ or group that she could talk to.
Criteria #4: Timeliness
This could be done virtually / remotely. Stories could be collected through various medium – text, audio, video etc
Criteria #5: Systems Thinking
Each and everyone of us are affected by COVID-19 in many different ways, some have their livelihoods affected, some work from home, some with kids and/or elderly as well, and some who are in the essential services.
This initiative would complement with various mediums and social and economic issues that COVID-19 has brought about, such as news media reports of those who have contracted COVID-19, recover from COVID-19, and the livelihoods of those impacted from COVID-19 – unemployment, home-based learning, stay home etc. Now all that is needed is an unified effort, won’t you want to be a part in bringing it to life too?