Emotionally Empowered Activism: designing for momentum and resilience in Youth-Led Grassroots
- Authors
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2024
- Source
- DiVA - Academic Archive On-line
- Keywords
- Language
- English
- License
- Green
- External links
Abstract
Activism is a deeply emotional endeavor, driven by the collective sentiments of individuals advocating for change. However, the intricate role of emotions in activism often remains convoluted, complicating its understanding and management. Inspired by these observations, I propose Emotional Reservoir, a digital application tailored to support youth-led grassroots organizations in managing their emotional dynamics. The aim is to explore how emotional awareness and reflection practices can empower groups, by helping them build momentum and cultivate resilience. The development process involved a human-centered methodology, informed by insights from activists and experts and theoretical research spanning various social studies disciplines. Grounded in a value-based design approach, the project merged personal and activist views to ensure alignment with the needs and aspirations of the target group. This project represents an explorative approach to activism support, intersecting technology with the deeply human experience of emotional engagement. Beyond the application itself, the documented process and insights contribute to a broader understanding of how interaction design can collaborate with activism to facilitate meaningful social change.
