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

Figures & data

Figure 1. Map of engagement template.

Figure 2. Map of engagement for Project 1. Toolkit: Testing codesign with people with intellectual disabilities.

Figure 3. Map of engagement for Project 2. Mobile application: designing a mobile application with and for youth in crisis.

Figure 4. Map of engagement for Project 3. Diary study: understanding the landscape of professional placements for nursing students with learning disabilities.

Figure 5. Map of engagement. Comparison of the three projects.

Table 1. Case study overview (number of participants in parentheses).

Project	Duration	Design researchers	Collaborating institutions	Research participants (primary users)	Research participants (proxies and secondary users)
1. Toolkit: Testing codesign with people with intellectual disabilities (Finland)	2019 (4 months)	Design student (1)	Local service provider (1) University (1)	People with disabilities living in supported housing (12)	Service managers (3) Housing unit workers (4)
2. Mobile application: Designing a mobile application with and for youth in crisis (Canada)	2015–2019	Faculty (5) Consultant (1) Design students (15) Additional design students at workshop (18)	College (1) Province-wide government institution for addiction and mental health (1) Local service providers (60) including organising group (15)	Youth ages 13 to 24 who had experienced crisis (40)	Parents (6) Counsellors/Service providers (6)
3. Diary study: understanding the landscape of professional placements for nursing students with learning disabilities (Canada)	2017–2019	Faculty (2) Design students (3)	University (1) College (1)	Students who have identified with disability (12)	Faculty (5) Student access service providers (3) Clinical instructors (14)

Table 2. Extent of participation.

Extent of participation (inclusion of vulnerable group in the process)	Typical activities
1. Users are actively involved in designing a product or service	Collaborative design workshops, user testing
2. Information is solicited from users and proxies	Research workshops, interviews, surveys
3. Stakeholders with knowledge of users are informed and given opportunities to provide some feedback	Meetings, presentations
4. Secondary sources reporting on users are consulted	Literature review, experts training the design team, personas developed by design teams and later used in design process