News

NEW: Wicked Solutions for a Wicked Problem

A creative exploration into problem solving using storytelling.

OBJECTIVE: The next generation of Social Networking, Social Media and Mobile Applications will be driven by storytelling and with it comes an opportunity for social change. DIY DAYS is excited to announce a special R&D project that will take place during our upcoming LA event. “Wicked Solutions for a Wicked Problem” (WS WP) works to bridge the gap between technology, storytelling and problem solving within a collaborative environment. WS WP assembles a “core team” of programmers, designers, storytellers, community leaders and researchers in an effort to harness the power of storytelling to impact a “Wicked Problem” that is affecting a community in Los Angeles.

Wicked Problems are often situations that require a great number of people to change their mindsets and behavior. From Global Warming to Poverty to AIDS to the Digital Divide there are many Wicked Problems that communities struggle with. The goal of WS WP is to embrace not only advancements in social technologies but also the possibilities that can come from a community working together. By harnessing the power of the community WS WP hopes to R&D some interesting solutions. While it will be next impossible to solve the Wicked Problem in such a short period of time, we hope to document the creative problem solving process and the impact of storytelling, social technology and community engagement around a focused issue.

Over the course of 24 to 48 hours the core team and the DIY DAYS community collaborate in an effort to concept, prototype and present possible “Wicked Solutions to a Wicked Problem.” The “core team” is documented via social media in order to amplify the effort, as well as to leave room for the DIY DAYS community to take part in the ideation process. We will also create a special interactive feedback loop to enable the DIY DAYS community to participate in real time throughout the process.

The goal of the “core team” is to derive a spec that can be passed to a team of hackers. The goal will be to turn the concept into a working prototype within 24 hours. The team of hackers will work to build a prototype which can be presented on stage in front of an audience at the close of DIY DAYS LA.

UCLA’s recently renovated Charles E. Young Research Library will host the event.

HOW IT WORKS:

A Wicked Problem is identified

Prior to DIY Days LA a core team is assembled

The core team and the DIY Days community have 24 hours to shape a storytelling solution and spec that addresses the needs of the identified Wicked Problem.

The spec is then put through the paces during a 24 hour hackathon where hackers work together to build a prototype that will be presented onstage at the close of DIY DAYS LA.

The day ends with a collective brainstorm / town hall focused on the Wicked Problem and the proposed Wicked Solutions.