40. Patterns and Insights From a Design Group’s Mobile Chat–Preliminary Findings and Commentary on Participation in Online Communities

The discussions in online groups and communities that share a common identity and interest can provide useful insights into various attributes and behaviors of the group as well as their beliefs and thinking. Such discussions may also be useful to make preliminary conjectures and hypotheses about the wider community they identify with. Accordingly, this paper seeks insights from an extended group chat among the alumni of a design school of a reputed institute over a logo rebranding exercise commissioned by their alma mater. An almost collective sense of dissatisfaction among the design alumni with the approved rebranded logo of their alma mater ensured that the discussion extended over a month, providing a rich volume of data and discussion to analyze and reflect on. While the situation was somewhat unique because of the sentiments attached to their alma mater, the range of discussions covered several comments on the outcomes (designs), process, and people (stakeholders). Therefore, this paper presents a preliminary analysis of the discussion. This analysis sought to gain insights into their thinking and beliefs, both as individuals as well as a group. Implications of the findings for design education as well as participation in online communities are discussed.