In Good For Nothing? Why Nonprofits, Designers, and Techies Can't Talk to Each Other, Ayca Akin explores the the intersection between the three groups, offering 15 insights into character, priorities, and world views that are sure to bridge the gaps. Here's the start:
Anyone who has worked with nonprofits can attest to the fact that a low budget and a lack of tech-savvy staff can hinder a group's ability to communicate its mission and affect change. But as a designer researching the use of technology to help nonprofits, I've come to understand that differences in how designers, technologists, and nonprofits see each other (and themselves) is at the heart of the problem.
There are a lot of designers and tech-savvy people out there who want to put their skills to good use and help nonprofits serve larger communities and interests. Indeed, working exclusively with clients who can afford them often pigeonholes designers into serving smaller and smaller segments of the population.
But venturing into the nonprofit world can be a dangerous prospect for those who live in a world where technology and innovation are essential ingredients to solving problems and creating change. As one designer who volunteers his skills recently remarked, "the challenge is that volunteers often have to work with nonprofits that don't understand the value of employing design technologies."
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Comments
It is clear that the principles of marketing, branding, design and tech applied in the for-profit world are best applied in undiluted fashion for the not-for-profit universe as well. This sometimes takes quite some clarification as many, (though far from all), NFPs regard the business world as polluted.
To their credit, they're doing well at overcoming large obstacles: the gaps in vocabulary, culture, and age between the world of Web 2.0 and the nonprofit sector.
Design accordingly.
But you're right on about transparency, making sure the channels of communication are open, and that everyone considers the other's point of view on the issue.
We're also educating the "accidental techies" so that they can be as effective as possible with their budgets and the tools available - and to be able to have helpful conversations with the techies and designers out there.
Thanks for the honest discussion here - and I look forward to more on it.