Pop-Up Probes

Abstract

Cultural probes are a popular approach for research settings where researchers cannot observe directly, instead letting participants work on tasks in their own time. The creation of attractive cultural probes can be a time-consuming process requiring a diverse skillset. We suggest the use of pop-up paper elements as a simple, cheap, and effective way to engage participants. We explain how to craft the material based on a case study with Pop-Up Probes used as warm-up exercise for a co-creation session to make participants reflect on their own relationship with objects in their home. Based on this case study we illustrate what information can be attained from the cultural probes and discuss opportunities to transfer the method to other contexts.