IRI UL’s people- and planet-centred development approach is based on interdisciplinary collaboration between engineers and social scientists, involving the organization and execution of ethnographic, qualitative research, and co-design workshops. IRI UL researchers, including anthropologists and sociologists, study human habits, routines, needs, expectations, and established practices of individuals and social groups. The research findings are transformed into actionable development guidelines.
Ethnography is a core research methodology in anthropology, but it is also established in other social science disciplines. It provides an in-depth understanding of social practices, values, behaviours, and perspectives of individuals and groups of people through fieldwork and analysis of qualitative data. As a set of research methods, it holds invaluable potential for applied, practical, and problem-oriented research, particularly in the development of services and products. Qualitative methods such as participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups presume direct and enduring contact with people in the context of everyday life. These aspects are crucial for the development of services, technological and non-technological solutions that effectively address needs and better achieve the desired goals.
The central tenet of the approach lies in involving people (target groups, relevant organizations, etc.) in all stages of the development process. Research participants are transformed into partners in the research process, ensuring that the emerging solutions effectively address the identified needs as efficiently as possible.
Identification and definition of the project
- Definition of challenges and research questions
- Identification of target groups, end-users, and key stakeholders
- Development of a research plan
- Formulation of methodological approach and transfer of methodology to partners (training)
Research and analysis of results
- Conducting research and analysis of social practices, needs, and expectations
- Use of qualitative research methods: participant observation, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, visual ethnography
Co-design and interpretation
- Designing, organising, implementing, and analysing structured workshops (co-design workshops, ethnographic workshops, prototyping)
- Preparation of recommendations for design or development (texts, visual presentations)
Testing
- Testing prototypes or drafts of solutions with target groups using various methods, e.g., scenarios and focus groups
- Preparation of improvement recommendations
Practices
Exploring Shared Mobility in Ljubljana in Cooperation with the Company Endava
Car sharing and shared mobility services have transformed the transportation landscape in Ljubljana, impacting how people perceive and access mobility options. To understand the dynamics of this shift, a comprehensive research project was conducted in collaboration with company Endava, delving into citizens’ perceptions, attitudes, and preferences regarding these alternative transportation solutions. The project highlighted potential areas of improvement and addressed the frustrations that users faced when interacting with these services. The research insights and development recommendations played a pivotal role for involved company in shaping the digital solutions for car-sharing services.
Exploring and Promoting Sustainable Renovation in the Case of a Multi-apartment House in Zagorje ob Savi
It is people who need and use energy, not buildings as such – this is the guiding principle in the now already classic field of research at IRI UL, which focuses on building renovations aimed at reducing energy consumption and improving the quality of the indoor environment for their users. Our first major project on this topic, named TripleA-reno, took place between 2018 and 2021 and was funded through the EU Horizon 2020 framework. We focused on understanding and promoting the renovation processes of buildings, especially comprehensive nearly zero-energy renovations of multi-residential buildings. As part of the project, we conducted a pilot ethnographic study in Zagorje ob Savi, for which we developed guidelines for use of applied ethnographic methods tailored to the specific needs of the project. Based on this work, we trained representatives of fifteen organizations in the project consortium from seven European countries to replicate our ethnographic approach in the context of their pilot projects. To date, the integration of such a “people-centered developmental approach” into research and development processes, as well as the implementation of applied research and educational processes, has become the mission of IRI UL, which we realize in context of numerous other activities and projects.
Ethnography Contributes to the Industrialisation of Building Renovation
The acceleration of multifamily housing renovation presents challenges that extend beyond technical and technological aspects. Within the INFINITE project (Horizon 2020), focused on industrialising renovation processes, one of our roles was to prioritize people. By implementing a people-centred approach, we aimed to comprehend the diverse perspectives emerging at every stage of building renovation and the development of solutions. Our anthropologist conducted ethnographic fieldwork in a selected building in Ravne na Koroškem (SI) undergoing renovation. To focus was to understand the residents’ needs, values, practices and social circumstances. This qualitative research contributed to formulating recommendations for the development of a building management system. It was crucial to consider that transforming a building into a smart and sustainable space should not only enhance the quality of indoor environment and reduce energy consumption but also simplify the lives of residents.
Developing Tools for Energy Communities
In the NRG2peers project (Horizon 2020), which focused on developing support tools for establishing and operating energy communities, IRI UL designed a plan and methodology and led the process of people-centred development. In the pilot energy community in Luče, we tested the approach by conducting participant observation and in-depth interviews with community members and representatives of organizations that play a role in the development and management of the community (policy planners, electricity distributors, suppliers, etc.). We organized a methodological workshop for project partners from five EU countries (engineers, architects, experts from other fields) and provided support to partners in conducting qualitative research in eight additional pilot energy communities. The research findings were compiled into a report that highlights fundamental barriers and opportunities for effectively promoting community energy initiatives.
Energy Is Not Consumed by Buildings, But by People
With our work on the MOBISTYLE project (Horizon 2020), we contributed to a shift in the paradigm regarding energy use in buildings. When seeking solutions to reduce energy consumption in buildings and significantly limit CO2 emissions, technical or technological innovations often take precedence, while the consideration of building users in these measures is rarely given equal attention. Partners in this international consortium emphasized a people-centred approach: after all, it’s not buildings that consume energy, but people. Based on ethnographic research, we formulated “10 Commandments for Developers,” which guided the development of four different ICT solutions. We also designed customized activities to raise awareness among building occupants about the importance of indoor environmental quality and good practices. The understanding of the significance of such new approaches in energy efficiency and buildings is also shifting at a systemic level, and our contributions from the MOBISTYLE project have played a role in this transformation: the European Commission has started employing the concepts of “Built4People” and “People-centric Sustainable Built Environment” in its plans for the 2021-2027 period, reflecting the impact of these novel approaches.
Upgrading the Mepis Energy Program and Improving the User Experience in Partnership with Metronik Company
An interdisciplinary student research team, guided by academic and industry mentors, explored the use and impacts of MePIS Energy, Metronik’s energy information system. The team applied people-centred development approaches in order to analyse how the information system is used in one of the University of Ljubljana buildings, how it is influencing energy consumption, and to develop innovative ideas for utilising the existing system for a more efficient use of energy. There were a number of exciting findings that contributed to an improved understanding of the interactions between building occupants and the building with its technologies, resulting in five structured development recommendations.