Short answer
Design spaces and processes that actively solicit and value the lived experiences of users, especially vulnerable populations, to co-create solutions that foster empowerment and resilience.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- International Journal of Child and Adolescent Resilience (2024)
- Method
- Conceptual Model Development
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Designing safe, narrative-focused spaces allows young people with experiences of intimate partner violence to share their stories, fostering resilience and influencing policy. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2024 study published in International Journal of Child and Adolescent Resilience. Using Conceptual model development, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Design spaces and processes that actively solicit and value the lived experiences of users, especially vulnerable populations, to co-create solutions that foster empowerment and resilience.
Narrative Shelters Empower Youth to Co-Create Resilience and Drive Social Change
Designing safe, narrative-focused spaces allows young people with experiences of intimate partner violence to share their stories, fostering resilience and influencing policy.
International Journal of Child and Adolescent Resilience · 2024
Key Findings
- 01Young people's voices are often marginalized in research and policy related to intimate partner violence.
- 02Integrating storytelling and storylistening in a safe space can foster resilience and agency in young people.
- 03Young people can be positioned as experts in their own lives and agents of social change.
Application
Design takeaway
Design spaces and processes that actively solicit and value the lived experiences of users, especially vulnerable populations, to co-create solutions that foster empowerment and resilience.
How to apply
When designing services or platforms for youth experiencing trauma, ensure mechanisms for safe self-expression and actively involve them in the design and decision-making process.
Project actions
- 01Focus on creating a safe and welcoming environment in your design.
- 02Consider how your design allows users to express themselves authentically.
- 03Think about how your design can give users a sense of control and agency.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Emphasizes the importance of user voice and agency.
- +Provides a theoretical framework for designing supportive interventions.
Limitations
It can be challenging to create truly safe spaces for sensitive topics, and ethical considerations are paramount.
Reliability & validity
The model's validity lies in its grounding in established psychological and social work theories. Reliability would need to be established through repeated application and consistent positive outcomes in practice.
Think critically
To what extent can a designed 'shelter' truly replicate the safety and trust needed for genuine storytelling, and what are the ethical boundaries of eliciting such narratives?
Design Principles
"Empowerment through Voice: Design solutions that provide platforms for marginalized voices to be heard, valued, and acted upon."
This approach shifts the paradigm from viewing young people as passive recipients of services to active agents in their own recovery and in shaping interventions. By prioritizing their voices and experiences, designers can create more effective, empathetic, and impactful solutions for vulnerable populations.
What This Means for Your Design
Imagine a special place where young people who have seen difficult things at home can tell their stories safely. This helps them feel stronger and can even help change rules to protect other kids.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference the 'Narrative Shelter' model to justify a user-centered approach that prioritizes participant voice and agency in your design process.
- 2.Use the findings to support the importance of creating safe spaces for user research and feedback.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The 'Narrative Shelter' model highlights the critical need for user-centered design that prioritizes the voices of young people, particularly those with experiences of intimate partner violence. By creating safe spaces for storytelling and storylistening, designers can foster resilience and empower users to become agents of change, influencing the development of more effective and empathetic interventions.
Source
International Journal of Child and Adolescent Resilience
The Narrative Shelter for Young People with Childhood Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence: A Concept for Creating Opportunities for Storytelling, Storylistening, and Resilience
journal · 2024
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about narrative shelters empower youth to co-create resilience and drive social change?
- Design spaces and processes that actively solicit and value the lived experiences of users, especially vulnerable populations, to co-create solutions that foster empowerment and resilience. Evidence: International Journal of Child and Adolescent Resilience (2024).
- Why does "Narrative Shelters Empower Youth to Co-Create Resilience and Drive Social Change" matter for design?
- This approach shifts the paradigm from viewing young people as passive recipients of services to active agents in their own recovery and in shaping interventions. By prioritizing their voices and experiences, designers can create more effective, empathetic, and impactful solutions for vulnerable populations.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Design spaces and processes that actively solicit and value the lived experiences of users, especially vulnerable populations, to co-create solutions that foster empowerment and resilience.
- What were the main findings?
- Young people's voices are often marginalized in research and policy related to intimate partner violence.. Integrating storytelling and storylistening in a safe space can foster resilience and agency in young people.. Young people can be positioned as experts in their own lives and agents of social change.
- What research method was used?
- Conceptual Model Development.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2024 journal from International Journal of Child and Adolescent Resilience.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing services or platforms for youth experiencing trauma, ensure mechanisms for safe self-expression and actively involve them in the design and decision-making process.
- What are the limitations?
- The model is theoretical and requires empirical testing to validate its effectiveness in practice.