Abstract:

This paper explores how the concept of educational usability is an empowering tool for the re-integration of socially outcast people.

The research starts with an investigation of receptive structures and facilities for homeless people, suggesting and outlining different typologies of hospitality spaces for learning and practice. These multidisciplinary spaces should create favourable conditions to allow the activation of personal resources and the development of new relationships.

One of the main research objectives is the cooperation of different actors sharing knowledge, skills and experiences in a mutual enrichment. A practical “know-how” approach helps people unlock and develop emotional and cognitive capacities, especially in a multicultural context.

Social Innovation and Social Design are seen as drivers of the research, including quantitative and qualitative analysis and the involvement of many different actors that work for social development and inclusion.

Italy and the city of Milan are the contexts of inquiry; due to its dense network of services, the City of Milan is attracting a high number of people in need, and this trend is still increasing.

The final output of the research is a new scenario outlined through the involvement of social actors, final users and stakeholders. This work offers a meta-design overview of the possible actions in the field, both in terms of spaces and services, using design as a social innovation tool.

The primary outcome is to create, design and offer cognitive usability at different levels; not only spaces for active learning, but spaces for living, working, interacting, sleeping. Usability of spaces is about access, connection and use of the different environmental and functional units, erasing cognitive barriers, promoting autonomous and intuitive knowledge.

Keywords:

Educational Usability, Social Innovation, Social Design, Service Design, Multidisciplinary spaces, Spatial Design.