Data-Centric Design

I’m passionate about the participatory use of existing behavioral data in the design process of products and services. This is a research topic I call Data-Centric Design, at the intersection of data science, human-computer interaction, and participatory design.

Behavioral data are data that map the behaviors of people and their environment. This includes sensor data such as in a smartwatch, logs of digital systems such as checking in/out at the train station, and self-logged data such as a diet application in which you would record what you eat.

I particularly look at existing data opportunities, that is, data already collected for or as a result of a product or service. There is already so much data generated everywhere; let’s not add to environmental and privacy issues.

I believe in the data humanism philosophy, which means I am looking at data beyond their numerical and quantitative value, recognizing the complexity of our world, and using data as a starting point that must be enriched with context.

I do so through a participatory approach as I believe people’s data must be used by, with, and for people who generate it. This might be researchers with participants or users among themselves. I look for collaborations that could likely lead to reciprocal exchanges of values and reflexivity.

Thus, I develop concepts, tools, methods and education material to facilitate the participatory use of existing behavioral data such as sensitive and collaborative data donation, data commons, data intimacy or participatory sensemaking of personal data.

I hold a PhD in Computer Science from the Open University (UK) and Université de Rennes 1 (FR), where I explored the notion of interactive demand-shifting in the context of micro-generation, i.e., how home systems can best support householders in using local electricity produce from their solar panel. This research has shaped the way I explore the use of data today and my transition towards design.