Street Debater
Job for collecting opinions on the street
2017 ~ 2019
Street debating is a new job designed to bridge social divides by fostering open dialogue. Conceived at Delft University of Technology as part of my research project, this initiative aims to provide homeless individuals in Europe with a dignified alternative to begging.The concept revolves around a board displaying a thought-provoking question and a balance-like tool offering two answer options. Passers-by are invited to vote and engage in discussion. As debates unfold, participants place money on the scales, visually representing public opinion.
This approach transforms traditional "giver-receiver" dynamics into equal, friendly exchanges. By facilitating these interactions, street debating seeks to rebuild connections between homeless individuals and society at large. Notably, some participants in London have successfully transitioned out of homelessness through this program.
Research Findings
Begging is an act of discarding one's dignity.
As part of a student project at TU Delft, I interviewed twenty-six people who were begging on the streets of London and in Amsterdam. Through these contextual interviews, I discovered that many of them were struggling to keep their dignity intact because when a person begs, they are throwing away their dignity in exchange for a few coins.
Project Goal
How can we create ways to prevent early stage homeless people from begging on the street and losing their dignity?
I arrived at the hypothesis that long-term begging leads to a gradual loss of self-confidence and dignity. While most people begin to beg temporarily, many continue to do so continuously. And the longer someone begs on a daily basis, the harder it becomes for them to find employment and connect back with society on more equal terms.
Insights from prototyping
Conversation as an equal is essential to one's dignity.
I conducted co-design with the people who were begging on the street to come up different ways of earning money on the street. Most prototypes failed but one intervention before the US election in 2016 worked. It was by using multiple cups to ask questions. This stopped many people for a friendly chat. I realised that this conversation aspect was crucial. For people who beg or do not have a home, conversation as an equal rarely occurs, but it is essential to one’s dignity.
Approach
Deploying a scale that creates debate and income on the street.
To enhance the conversation aspect of the interaction, the scale-like tool was developed. The product was handed out to people who were on the streets in London.
Data is open-sourced and anyone can make it
Results of the project
One person getting off the streets with street debating by earning 70 pounds per day for 3 month.
One homeless street debater in London used this for more than 3 month and got off the streets with the money he earned. He now has a place to stay and a steady job. On average he earned 70 pounds per day and the maximum money he earned per day was 180 pounds.
Anybody can become a street debater. The device data is open source and can be made by anyone. You might bump into some random street debaters on the street ;)
Awards
IxDA Interaction Awards 2019 : Finalist
WIRED Creative Hack Award 2017 : Grand Prix
Appearance
Exhibition - Kunsthal KaDe 2019 : Balancing Acts
Presentation - Design Indaba Global Graduates
Project Details
Date » 2016 ~ 2018
Project's Nature » Student project at TU Delft
Credit
Mentor » Stefan van de Geer, Mark van Huystee
Press Coverage
Dezeen » "Street Debater tool helps homeless people earn money without begging"
WIRED JAPAN » "「ものごい」の代替手段 : ストリートディベーターという職業が、路上生活者を社会復帰に導く"