Emotions on diabetes: a design case of user mock-ups by young people living with diabetes

Abstract

This paper reports a design research case on mobile learning technology for children and teenagers living with the chronic illness diabetes. A central focus in the design process was to understand the young people's perspective on their chronic illness and on mobile technology support. Towards this end, a design workshop was facilitated to promote the articulation of their emotions towards design. This presentation outlines this design activity and discusses the results of 12 mock-ups created by a group of young people living with diabetes. The analysis and reflections of the user mock-ups highlight three aspects related to their identity of self, the burden of being young with a chronic illness, and the need to feel connected and safe in a society generally unaware of or uninformed about their illness.

Keywords:

• user mock-ups
• partly unconscious communication
• generative design tools
• young people
• diabetes
• mobile learning technology

Acknowledgements

We thank our colleague Ann Bygholm for pointing us towards Bateson's writings on partly unconscious communication. Thanks to the organisation team of the summer camp and to all young people living with diabetes who participated in the study.