Methods for Supporting Older Users in Communicating Their Emotions at Different Phases of a Living Lab Project

Abstract

In this article, we focus on living lab methods that support the elicitation of emotions – a key success factor in whether a design solution will be accepted and taken up over the long term. We demonstrate the use of emotional goal models to help understand what is relevant for a target user group in the early phases of design. We promote animations and storyboards to envision the context of use and to gain an understanding of how design ideas can integrate into people’s lives. For the evaluation of ideas and to further understand user needs, we show how technology probes facilitate natural interactions with a suggested solution concept. All methods have in common that they enable older adults without design or development experience to participate in the design process and work towards a meaningful solution by helping to communicate feelings and goals that are often hard to define. Lastly, we present a process model that demonstrates our emotion-led design toolkit at various phases of a living lab process.