Whom do we include and when? participatory design with vulnerable groups

ABSTRACT

This article makes three contributions to participatory design (PD) research and practice with vulnerable groups: 1) a framework for understanding stakeholder engagement over the course of a PD project; 2) approaches to making user engagement and PD activities more inclusive; and 3) an analysis of how the design and power dynamics of PD projects affect vulnerable groups’ participation. A map of engagement is developed to evaluate stakeholder involvement from initial problem definition to design outcome. The map is applied to three projects aimed at increasing inclusion of vulnerable groups in the planning of public sector services. The first looks at codesign activities to support decision-making in the context of intellectual disabilities; the second looks at culturally diverse youth navigating crisis without adequate assistance from public services; and the third examines nursing students adapting to work in the health sector without accommodations for learning disabilities. Comparing the projects reveals patterns in project planning and execution, and in stakeholder relationships. The article analyses how users are defined, engaged and supported in PD; how proxies shape vulnerable groups’ involvement and PD projects as a whole; and opportunities for greater inclusion when the entire PD project is taken into account.

KEYWORDS:

• Codesign
• disability
• diversity
• engagement
• inclusive design
• participatory design

Acknowledgment

We acknowledge Savannah Vize for her work establishing the graphic design of the maps of engagement.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Work in case studies 2 and 3 was supported by separate grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, grant numbers 890-2015-1049 and 430-2018-00688.

Notes on contributors

Elise Hodson

Elise Hodson is a senior tutor in the School of Design, Royal College of Art, UK. Her work brings together design culture and practice with a focus on social sustainability.

Annukka Svanda

Annukka Svanda is a doctoral researcher in the Department of Design, Aalto University, Finland. Her research aims to leverage service design to support social justice.

Nastaran Dadashi

Nastaran Dadashi is a professor in the School of Design, George Brown College, Canada. She is a Chartered Ergonomist and her research focuses on human centred design.