Undergraduate: Lauren T. Rutter
Faculty Mentor: Amrita Datta
Campus: Indianapolis
Background
The population of displaced or stateless people has steadily increased since 1950, with current figures at an all-time high.
Refugees and asylum-seekers face violence and conflict in their home countries, requiring international intervention from a network of governmental and nongovernmental agencies. Before beginning my research, theorized that applying the principles of design thinking could provide innovative solutions to a global dilemma by people will be displaced or providing actionable steps to those operating at a local level.

International Focus:
The crisis in Ukraine has sparked global outcry, with international organizations ranging from the Human Rights Council to the International Court of Justice calling for the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces, citing blatant and disturbing human rights violations.

Methodology
Using a people-centered approach, I conducted research via two primary channels:

1. Interviewing members of Church World Service, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that works with refugees
• Main Contact: Barb Bias, Executive Director, God is Good

2. Developing "How might we questions, common in design thinking, to challenge existing assumptions
• Aid in the process of assimilating displaced individuals in our local communities?
• Help displaced women and children to feel socially included and secure in Indiana communities?

3. Synthesizing published data to understand, define, and iterate on possible ways to improve/provide aid to both refugees and resettlement agencies
• Primary method of synthesization was affinity mapping, a process of compiling extrapolated data and grouping by commonalities/themes

Discussion & Findings
Funding on an international, national, and local level is almost entirely voluntary or donation-based. Organizations providing aid are often vastly underfunded given the scope of needs of refugees, which can be underestimated by PSG with no prior experience sponsoring those displaced.

Before conducting my research, I theorized that applying the principles of design thinking could provide an alternative solution to what currently exists. My research confirmed that iterating via an innovative approach could provide relief to the growing number of those in need of aid.