From Theory to Action: A Hands-On Workshop Experience

Ever wondered how human-centred design can help tackle real-world problems? Recently, I had the chance to see it in action at the So/Me Design Workshop, hosted by UCT MedTech under the guidance of Prof. Sudesh Sivarasu. This wasn’t just another academic seminar; it was a fully immersive, hands-on experience focused on finding real-world solutions to a pressing issue—interpersonal violence (IPV) in South Africa.

Understanding Interpersonal Violence (IPV)

Before jumping into problem-solving, we needed to understand the scope of IPV. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), IPV falls into two broad categories:

• Family and intimate partner violence – This includes child abuse, domestic violence, and elder abuse.
• Community violence – Think youth violence, street crime, and workplace assaults.

The effects of IPV can be devastating, and the workshop aimed to explore new ways to prevent and respond to injuries caused by IPV.

Hearing from the Experts

To give us a solid foundation, we heard from a lineup of experts who broke down the complexities of IPV:

• A professor from the University of Birmingham shed light on spinal cord injuries—a frequent and tragic outcome of IPV and the long-term medical challenges survivors face.
• A forensic specialist explained the difficulties of identifying IPV perpetrators, especially in fatal cases where forensic evidence, like bite marks, is tricky to analyze.
• A political studies expert brought a social and cultural lens to the conversation, highlighting the impact of stigma, family dynamics, and even social media on IPV reporting.

Each speaker added another layer of depth, making it clear that IPV is a multifaceted problem requiring an interdisciplinary approach.

From Discussion to Innovation

Then came the real challenge. We were split into groups each with people from different academic and professional backgrounds and given this problem to solve:

"Design ways to prevent and respond to injuries caused by interpersonal violence in South Africa, considering that accidents and violence including gunshots, car crashes, and blunt force trauma contribute to these injuries."

What followed was a rush of brainstorming, debates, and creative problem-solving. The diversity in each group turned out to be a huge advantage. We had engineers, medics, social scientists, and more, all tackling the issue from different angles while ensuring that our proposed solutions were practical, as well as socially and culturally relevant to the South African context. Some teams tackled medical solutions, others explored tech-based interventions, while some focused on social strategies like education and awareness. The room was buzzing with excitement—this was problem-solving in action!

Why This Workshop Stood Out

This experience made one thing clear: learning isn’t just about absorbing information; it’s about applying it. The workshop proved that when people from different disciplines come together to tackle a real-world issue, impactful solutions emerge. It also made me appreciate the power of hands-on, interactive learning —something academia could use more of!

If more workshops embraced this approach, we’d be equipping students with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed for the real world. Until then, I’ll be carrying the lessons from this workshop into my future work, knowing that the best solutions emerge when we step outside the lecture hall and into the field of action.