Materiality in probes: three perspectives for co-exploring patient democracy

Abstract

The overall aim of this paper is to increase designers’ understanding of how materiality can be of value in probing. Initially, we position ourselves in relation to existing approaches to probing. Hereafter, we introduce three different theoretical perspectives on materiality in order to make some useful conceptual distinctions. The explanatory strength of each perspective is then exemplified through a case study, where probing was used extensively as a method of co-exploring cancer patients’ individual and social needs. The contribution of the paper lies in offering a detailed understanding of how the materialising of probes can be used as different modes of inquiry in co-exploring activities. Through these, we define a more holistic picture of the cancer patient in a societal context both as individual, as family member, as patient and as citizen, in relation to how individual participation in own treatment might be configured.

Keywords:

• Materiality
• probing
• material participation
• design for well-being
• design & democracy

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank all patients for participating in our study and for sharing their experiences with the research group.