Participatory Design Process Research Articles

Transformative social marketing and social innovation for sustainable development through participatory design with economically marginalized users

Purpose The study is positioned at the crossroads of transformative social marketing and social innovation literature through the lens of participatory design (PD). This exploratory study aims to explore how social enterprises in India engage economically marginalized people in transformative social marketing and innovation for sustainable development through PD. Design/methodology/approach The study includes a case study with a matched pairs analysis approach. The data analysis reports three themes depicting the role of PD in different stages of the social innovation process (codiscovery, codesign and scaling-up), the challenges faced in the process and the outcomes of the PD process. Findings The authors propose that social enterprises can act as sustainable development catalysts for more inclusive sustainable development through their proactive and creative uses of PD. Still, PD also has limitations for addressing the challenges stemming from marginalized contexts, which requires effective social marketing strategies to overcome. Originality/value The study contributes to the emerging dialogue on PD with marginalized users and widens the scope of studies on transformative social marketing and innovation. The findings also provide practical insights for PD practitioners on how designers can learn from diverse PD practices in the context of economically marginalized people.

INNOVATIVE PARTICIPATORY DESIGN METHOD USING SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE PLATFORMS

The study examines the effects of social media (SM), online platforms (OP) and digital instruments (DI) on participants' communication and the structure of the participatory design processes (PDPs). It addresses a gap in the literature by exploring the potential of these SM and OP to enhance stakeholders' involvement in PDPs. Through a case study of a participatory children's furniture design project involving diverse stakeholders, including children, parents, scholars, specialists, industry, university and the community, the study investigates how SM, OP and DI facilitate enriched and expedited communication in PDPs. The paper discusses these tools' challenges and opportunities within a conceptual framework. A mixed methodology approach is employed for data collection, incorporating observations, surveys, interviews and various participatory activities. By examining the findings, the study seeks to answer two key research questions: How do SM and OP influence communication patterns in PDPs? What is the impact of these DI on the structure and dynamics of the PDPs? The study proposes an innovative approach to overcome associated challenges. The positive effects of SM, OP and DI can significantly reshape the nature of participation in PDPs, such as the number of participants, the duration of the process and budget limitations.

Visual Design and Evaluation of Public Space Scene Based on Virtual Reality Technology

Public space scenes are being transformed by virtual reality (VR) technology, offering immersive and interactive experiences that redefine how people engage with their surroundings. Through VR simulations, users can explore and interact with virtual public spaces in ways that were previously impossible. From virtual parks and plazas to digital replicas of iconic landmarks, VR technology allows users to experience the ambiance and atmosphere of public spaces from the comfort of their own homes. Moreover, VR enables designers and planners to experiment with different layouts, amenities, and features, facilitating participatory design processes and community engagement. This paper presents a visual design and evaluation framework for public space scenes using virtual reality (VR) technology, enhanced by Virtual Parallel Edge Hashing Computing (VPE-HC). The framework aims to optimize the design and user experience of public spaces by leveraging VR technology to create immersive and interactive simulations. Through simulated experiments and empirical validations, the effectiveness of the VPE-HC-enhanced VR-based design and evaluation process is evaluated. Results demonstrate significant improvements in user satisfaction, engagement, and usability compared to traditional design methods. For instance, users interacting with public space scenes designed using VPE-HC reported a 40% increase in perceived safety and a 25% improvement in overall satisfaction ratings. Additionally, the framework enabled designers to optimize spatial layouts and amenities based on real-time user feedback and performance data, leading to more effective and user-centric design solutions. These findings underscore the potential of VPE-HC in enhancing the visual design and evaluation of public space scenes based on VR technology, facilitating more inclusive and user-friendly urban environments.

Centering Educators’ Voices in the Development of Professional Learning for Data-Rich, Place-Based Science Instruction

This self-reflective case study describes our project team’s efforts to promote equity in science professional learning (PL) by centering the voices of educators in the PL design process and within the course itself. We believe that educators’ experiences, priorities, and expertise are essential to developing professional learning that meets the needs of teachers and their students. We have a particular interest in amplifying the voices of those in historically underrepresented communities. Toward that end, we engaged science educators who work with Indigenous students and recent immigrants as collaborators in developing PL to support data-rich, place-based Earth Science instruction. In this case study, we share and critique the practices and tools that we have employed to center educator voices, rather than those of the PL designers and researchers. Our strategies for developing more equitable science professional learning include the use of: (a) equity-focused research methods, such as asset-based needs-sensing questions and peer-to-peer interviews; (b) a humanistic stance toward data-rich science learning, which emphasizes the typically unnamed sociocultural inputs and outputs that permeate all aspects of data; (c) a participatory design process that centers educators’ voices; and (d) a model of professional learning that uses representations of educator and student experiences as objects for reflection.

Adapting Technology for Dementia Care: The Case of Emobook App in Reminiscence focused Music Therapy

INTRODUCTION: Life Story books are frequently employed to facilitate reminiscence interventions, but their use in Music Therapy remains limited in the scientific literature. There is a paucity of research detailing the design processes involved in this context.OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to report on the adaptation of the Emobook Life Story Book App for a Reminiscence Music Therapy Program for people living with dementia.METHODS: An interdisciplinary team comprising an interaction designer, a software engineer, a music therapist, and a research assistant engaged in a Participatory Design process. The study comprised two distinct phases: "Adaptation Phase," aimed to identify features requiring adjustment to integrate Emobook into MT effectively and the "Implementation Phase," focused on evaluating the adequacy of these changes for Emobook's use within the Music Therapy ProgramRESULTS: By merging the requirements identified during each phase, additional improvements were generated, leading to the decision to evolve Emobook Post-Prototype towards a version tailored specifically for Music Therapy.CONCLUSION: Collaborative, interdisciplinary efforts are essential in advancing the incorporation of technology into music therapy practice. This study demonstrates the value of a Participatory Design approach in this regard.

Exploring citizens' perspectives on participatory design and planning: A comparative study across three capital cities

Participation is often employed by authorities as a unilateral tool for gathering data from citizens, informing them about processes, and obtaining legitimacy and accountability, rather than truly empowering or collaborating with citizens. However, many scholars emphasize the vital role of civic consciousness and collective intelligence (CI) in addressing chronic issues and global crises related to shared interests and values. To achieve this with effective participatory design and planning (PD&P) processes, it's essential to understand citizens' perspectives rather than imposing ‘one-size-fits-all’ approaches.We explored how citizens evaluate existing PD&P mechanisms in three capital cities: Ankara, Bogota, and Madrid, representing developed, developing, and least-developed countries. Through collective experiments using conjoint analysis, we conducted citizen interviews based on the CI genome consisting of key dimensions and attributes of PD&P for public spaces. Crowdsourcing applications were integrated to enhance field studies. Additionally, chord diagrams and scatter charts visually depict interrelations among the grouped and ranked genome attributes. Our analysis explores variations and commonalities across cities and includes reflections from students.The results show that PD&P is perceived as significantly important, while top-down political decisions are perceived as dissatisfactory by most respondents. Notably, Madrid stands out positively in certain dimensions, including the willingness for active participation, multi-functionality as a capital, and diversity of initiatives. In addition, the political culture, respondents' education, age, and attachment to the city have significant influences on preferred methods, prioritized issues, and attitudes. Despite its limitations, conjoint analysis holds promise as a method to understand citizens' demands and design robust PD&P settings for deeper and broader involvement.

Pedestrian-oriented development in Beirut: A framework for estimating urban design impacts on pedestrian flows through modeling, participatory design, and scenario analysis

As municipalities are setting ambitious targets to increase non-motorized transportation mode shares, analytic frameworks for examining how such targets will be met become increasingly important. In this article, we update the Urban Network Analysis pedestrian modeling framework designed to link land use and urban development changes with pedestrian mobility outcomes by introducing new methods for capturing the effects of street properties on pedestrian travel demand and adjusting pedestrian trip generation rates with k-nearest accessibility scores based on destination availability in each context. This framework was used in conjunction with a participatory design process in Beirut, Lebanon to estimate pedestrian mobility impacts of three urban design scenarios. We illustrate how each scenario affects pedestrian trip generation across various trip types and trip distribution on individual street segments. Our approach demonstrates how urban design interventions–both land use changes and street quality improvements–can influence pedestrian travel demand. Estimates of these changes can provide planners and policymakers with valuable benefit-cost analyses of public space improvements, and a framework for understanding how site-specific planning and development decisions can impact progress towards (or away from) non-motorized mobility goals.

Relational sensitivity in participatory design

ABSTRACT Relational sensitivity involves attuning to subtle and complex collaborative dynamics and plays an important role in participatory design (PD) processes. PD practitioners, including researchers, designers, and facilitators, need abilities to navigate group dynamics while responsibly considering their own impact on the process. This article focuses on the term ‘relational sensitivity’ to develop perspectives and a vocabulary for discussing the competence and readiness needed in PD. This knowledge can contribute to design research by addressing the lack of understanding regarding how practitioners are trained in design facilitation and sensitivity to relationships. The article articulates relational sensitivity through the perspectives: sensitivity to self, to intersubjectivity, and to materiality and process. It makes a valuable contribution to the PD field by bringing together and exemplifying concepts and aspects connected to relational sensitivity, as well as applying Wilber’s four-quadrant model and Ofman’s adapted model in a new research context.

Enhancing Quality in Higher Education Through Evidence-Based and Inclusive Policy Co-Development

Higher education institutions across Africa and beyond are confronted with the need to demonstrate quality, relevance, and accountability amidst numerous challenges. This study used the mixed methodology to explore the adoption of participatory and evidence-based policy design processes in four universities in Zimbabwe. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 60 participants across administration, faculty and student leadership from two public and two private institutions. Additionally, relevant documents were reviewed to provide contextual information. The data from the interviews were analyzed using deductive coding based on the Advocacy Coalition Framework, as well as inductive coding to identify emerging themes. The findings indicate that stakeholder input and evidence were effectively incorporated into the decision-making process through leadership support, capacity-building initiatives, and engagement structures. However, challenges such as resistance to change, time limitations, and lack of expertise were identified. To enhance ownership and relevance, the study recommends central coordination of policies, gradual implementation of new approaches, and collaboration with policy researchers to strengthen the evidence base. This research underscores the significance of collaborative policy development processes for higher education institutions in developing settings to improve quality and responsiveness to diverse institutional needs.

Applying the Participatory Slow Design Approach to a mHealth Application for Family Caregivers in Pediatric Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgery.

Pediatric ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgery is very common, and its outcomes may improve with family education. In this regard, mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps), which are on the rise due to digital transformation, can be beneficial in healthcare. This study outlines the user-centered design and development of a mHealth app (version 5.15.0) to support family caregivers during the perioperative process of pediatric ENT surgery. Conducted over two years in an Italian maternal and child health hospital (January 2020-May 2022), the study employed a participatory design method based on the Information System Research (ISR) framework and guided by the principles of Slow Medicine. Utilizing the Relevance, Rigor, and Design cycles of the ISR framework, the mHealth app's content, functionalities, and technical features were defined and developed. A committee of fifteen experts guided the process with input from 25 family caregivers and 24 healthcare providers enrolled in the study. The mHealth app content was structured around five crucial educational moments characterizing the ENT perioperative period, providing evidence-based information on surgical procedures, strategies for preparing children for hospitalization and surgery, pain management, and post-discharge care. The mHealth app featured a function that sends customized notifications to guide caregivers at specific perioperative stages. The development of mHealth apps by implementing a rigorous, participatory, and Slow design process can foster accessible and family-centered information and care in the field of maternal and child health and beyond.

The Walking Bangkapi: Inclusive Pedestrian Network’s Integrated Design and Implementation Study on Bangkok’s Emerging Transportation District

With a city growing in size, capacity, density, and intensity, walkability in the Bangkapi district (Bangkok, Thailand) represents a challenge to produce more inclusive transportation through mobility planning that suits the multimodal transportation system (skywalk, MRT lines, water transportation) and the walking experience of the pedestrian. Drawing from Bangkok’s Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) strategic plan, the challenge lies in the balancing point of efficiently and effectively elevating walkability while keeping the local urban identity. This study investigates the notion of walkability as both a ground-up participatory design process and within the overall mobility planning framework by reviewing both Thai and international sidewalk standards and through interviews with stakeholders. We conclude by producing an experimental design guide and policy recommendations on how area-specific sidewalks have the potential in shaping more feasible and equitable mobility planning from the ground up.

Beyond individual responsibility – towards a relational understanding of financial resilience through participatory research and design

Abstract This paper contributes to an increasingly critical assessment of a policy framing of ‘financial resilience’ that focuses on individual responsibility and financial capability. Using a participatory research and design process, we construct a ground-up understanding of financial resilience that acknowledges not only an individual’s actions, but the contextual environment in which they are situated, and how those relate to one another. We inductively identify four inter-connected dimensions of relational financial resilience: infrastructure (housing, health, and childcare), financial and economic factors (income, expenses, and financial services and strategies), social factors (motivation and community and family), and the institutional environment (policy and local community groups, support and advice services). Consequently, we recommend that social policies conceptualise financial resilience in relational terms, as a cross-cutting policy priority, rather than being solely a facet of individual financial capability.

Permeance. A demodern artistic process for more-than-human collaborative practices in Participatory Design

ABSTRACT Urgent socioenvironmental questions require traditionally human-centred disciplines, such as design, to adopt pluriversal stances. In this paper, we address pluriversality in Participatory Design (PD) through a collaborative more-than-human art-design process that engages with the concept of the demodern and is attuned to critical posthumanities. Within these two theoretical frameworks, we present the situated project ‘Permeance’, which, through an art-led methodology, rethought the tools of mapping, photography and chromatography to offer a demodernising alternative that accounts for human and more-than-human participation on equal bases. We discuss how critically and experimentally addressing common design tools, such as mapping or photography, can shape the creative design process and lead to generating alternative knowledge. We advance an art-led approach to developing well-suited tools and processes for more-than-human collaboration in PD. Lastly, we illustrate the transformative potential of an artistic methodological approach in a PD process as a means to initiate socioenvironmental action for change.

Chatbots for Change Playbook: A Practical Guide and Modular Toolkit on How to Create, Grow, and Sustain Your Chatbot for Disaster Medicine

Abstract Objective Chatbots, conversational agents providing access to information and services through interaction in everyday language, can make essential health information and services more accessible, available, and affordable. Kati Collective, together with Meta, worked to identify, outline, and develop some of the most critical tools and processes required to leverage chatbots for social good with a focus on health. The results of this work are compiled in a comprehensive, modular playbook. We propose to share our learnings and guide participants of our session to explore the existing uses, benefits, trade-offs, and challenges of using chatbots in disaster medicine. Methods There are significant challenges and barriers to scale, impact, and sustainability of their chatbot interventions. In response to these challenges, we used a participatory design process, landscape analysis, desk research and interviews with key stakeholders in the digital for development space to inform which content to include and in what format to best connect information to action. Results The Playbook contains key information, tools, exercises, and resources organized into four interrelated modules based on barriers and enablers. Conclusions This Playbook is particularly relevant in analysis, planning, strategizing and design phases of the chatbot project lifecycle and is highly extensible to disaster medicine.

Evaluation of Indicators for Participatory and Collaborative Design Process for Public Parks in Malaysia: Analytical Hierarchy Process

Public participation is deemed relevant and essential for ensuring a holistic approach with equal weighting in implementing the three sustainable pillars of environment, economy and society. Malaysia’s effective implementation of sustainable development frameworks also relies heavily on public participation activities. This participation allows for the incorporation of diverse perspectives, knowledge and experiences, ensuring that decisions and policies address the needs and aspirations of the affected community. This study examines the ranking of indicators for public participation exercises in park design in Malaysia. Using the analytical hierarchy process, 22 indicators from three main clusters were evaluated using a quantitative approach based on the opinions of subject matter experts. The methods of approach, types of public and public park design criteria are discussed in the results for the three construction phases recommended for implementation. This study establishes ranking indicators for each cluster relative to the three stages of development. The findings contribute to improving the present work process of the landscape architecture department at local authorities in Malaysia, ensuring an enhanced, holistic and impactful approach to participatory and collaborative design processes for public parks in Malaysia.

Shifting Responsibilities: Developing a Pan-European Service Model for an eHealth Technology Supporting Self-Management of People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Comorbidities.

Active participation of patients in their care via self-management is an important pillar to manage chronic conditions. Self-management education and continuous support are needed to improve patients' confidence to take such active role. One way to do this is through eHealth technologies. However, those technologies can only be successful when actively used in daily practice and when integrated in overall care. Therefore, this study investigated how a self-management eHealth technology could be implemented that emphasises the active role of patients in their care. The service modelling method was utilized as implementation strategy. The design process consisted of five phases with salient stakeholders and consortium members of a European project to develop the service model. Studies with salient stakeholders were carried out in three different countries (Italy, Estonia, the Netherlands). A combination between face-to-face and online methods facilitated the participatory design process. Due to the pan-European context, different stakeholders in the three countries were identified. Research nurses and case managers were not yet established in practice but once implemented, expected to contribute to optimal implementation. During service modelling, a crucial step was revealed: providing self-management training before technology use to let patient familiarise with the concept of taking an active role. As HCPs felt that they were not necessarily equipped to guide patients in terms of self-management, they also should have access to such self-management training. By demonstrating a way for implementation while emphasising patients' active role, we also showed the complexity of the method in two ways. First, by demonstrating the fine line between the descriptive and prescriptive model. Thus, showcasing the need to recognize that prescriptive models may be hampered by the delay in changing work practices. Second, by highlighting the importance of identifying country-specific differences in the pan-European context, revealing that service modelling is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Using visual storytelling to share aggregate findings with families participating in clinical genomics research

PurposeSharing aggregate results with research participants is a widely agreed-upon ethical obligation; yet, there is little research on communicating study results to diverse populations enrolled in genomics research. This article describes the cocreation of a visual narrative to explain research findings to families enrolled in a clinical genomics research study. MethodsThe design process involved researchers, clinicians, study participants, a physician illustrator, and a health communications expert. Drawing on themes identified in interviews with participating families, the team developed a story and comic about a fictional family participating in genomic research in the hopes of finding an explanation for their child’s condition. ResultsDesign adjustments to improve the clarity and relatability of the story and accompanying images were prompted by feedback from study participants, who showed a high degree of interest in and support for the project. Spanish and English versions of the final comic book were distributed to study participants, and the feedback received was positive. ConclusionOur project highlights the feasibility of using visual storytelling to convey genomic research findings to socioeconomically diverse participants. A participatory design process enhances the relevance and relatability of results sharing materials and demonstrates respect for those who contribute to clinical genomics research.

Co-Designing with Extreme Users: A Framework for User Participation in Design Processes

Co-Designing with Extreme Users: A Framework for User Participation in Design Processes

Going beyond Chat: Designing Connotative Meaningful Line Stickers to Promote Road Safety in Thailand through Participatory Design

Road accidents are a leading cause of death in Thailand, with increasing fatalities. Despite road safety campaigns during holidays, consistent communication is lacking in daily life. This research aimed to create Line application stickers, a top chat platform for Thailand, using the participatory design (PD) approach. PD was implemented in two steps. Firstly, 100 participants outlined character types, moods, tones, and communication objectives. They recommended lively animal characters with diverse texts, such as greetings, work, travel, and emotions. Then, through a focus group, the tortoise was identified to represent cautious drivers who follow traffic rules, the rabbit to represent fast and risky drivers, and the zebra to represent vigilant and disciplined traffic police officers as characters for Line stickers. Subsequently, using the semiotics approach, 40 Line stickers were designed, and embedded with denotative and connotative road safety messages. Secondly, feedback from the focus group, integral to the PD process, led to refinements. After launching, a survey of 50 users showed “Benefits Received”, “Text and Messages”, and “Meaning” dimensions received “Very Satisfied/Strongly Agree” ratings. The “Character” dimension received a “Satisfied” rating. The results for “Benefits Received” can also be analyzed in the context of the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) theory, which revealed that K and A were at the highest level, while P was at a high level. This suggests that the Line stickers designed in this study effectively conveyed road safety messages to the receivers. This research constitutes the pioneering exploration within the realm of Line stickers concerning road safety, signifying the originality and unique contribution of our research to the existing body of knowledge in this domain. The PD process in this research can serve as a guideline for creating safety-promoting media in diverse fields.

Guide Development for eHealth Interventions Targeting People With a Low Socioeconomic Position: Participatory Design Approach.

People with a low socioeconomic position (SEP) are less likely to benefit from eHealth interventions, exacerbating social health inequalities. Professionals developing eHealth interventions for this group face numerous challenges. A comprehensive guide to support these professionals in their work could mitigate these inequalities. We aimed to develop a web-based guide to support professionals in the development, adaptation, evaluation, and implementation of eHealth interventions for people with a low SEP. This study consisted of 2 phases. The first phase involved a secondary analysis of 2 previous qualitative and quantitative studies. In this phase, we synthesized insights from the previous studies to develop the guide's content and information structure. In the second phase, we used a participatory design process. This process included iterative development and evaluation of the guide's design with 11 professionals who had experience with both eHealth and the target group. We used test versions (prototypes) and think-aloud testing combined with semistructured interviews and a questionnaire to identify design requirements and develop and adapt the guide accordingly. The secondary analysis resulted in a framework of recommendations for developing the guide, which was categorized under 5 themes: development, reach, adherence, evaluation, and implementation. The participatory design process resulted in 16 requirements on system, content, and service aspects for the design of the guide. For the system category, the guide was required to have an open navigation strategy leading to more specific information and short pages with visual elements. Content requirements included providing comprehensible information, scientific evidence, a user perspective, information on practical applications, and a personal and informal tone of voice. Service requirements involved improving suitability for different professionals, ensuring long-term viability, and a focus on implementation. Based on these requirements, we developed the final version of "the inclusive eHealth guide." The inclusive eHealth guide provides a practical, user-centric tool for professionals aiming to develop, adapt, evaluate, and implement eHealth interventions for people with a low SEP, with the aim of reducing health disparities in this population. Future research should investigate its suitability for different end-user goals, its external validity, its applicability in specific contexts, and its real-world impact on social health inequality.