Short answer
Incorporate an understanding of users' transnational lives and resource management into the design process to create more relevant and effective solutions.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- IMISCOE research series (2018)
- Method
- Qualitative research
- Sample
- 37 participants
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Understanding the lived experiences and resource circulation within transnational migrant communities can inform more inclusive and effective design solutions. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2018 study published in IMISCOE research series. Using Qualitative research with 37 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Incorporate an understanding of users' transnational lives and resource management into the design process to create more relevant and effective solutions.
Migrant Experiences Inform Design for Diverse User Groups
Understanding the lived experiences and resource circulation within transnational migrant communities can inform more inclusive and effective design solutions.
IMISCOE research series · 2018
Key Findings
- 01Migrants possess multiple social statuses that are significant in transnational social fields.
- 02Resources are circulated and re-valorised through cross-border movement.
- 03Mobilities studies offer valuable insights into migration experiences.
Application
Design takeaway
Incorporate an understanding of users' transnational lives and resource management into the design process to create more relevant and effective solutions.
How to apply
When designing for communities with diverse cultural backgrounds or those who frequently move between locations, consider how they access and utilize resources, and how their identities are shaped by these movements.
Project actions
- 01When researching users, consider their background beyond just their immediate environment.
- 02Think about how users might use your design in different places or with different resources.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Longitudinal fieldwork (2 years) provides depth and insight into evolving experiences.
- +Multiple interview methods (narrative, spatial, group) offer a richer understanding of participants' lives.
Limitations
The findings are specific to the group studied and may not apply universally.
Reliability & validity
The qualitative nature and specific context limit generalizability, but the longitudinal approach and multiple interview types enhance the depth and validity of the findings within that context.
Think critically
How might the specific legal and social contexts of Britain and Switzerland have influenced the findings, and how could these influences be mitigated in future research?
Design Principles
"Design for adaptability and resourcefulness by acknowledging users' complex, multi-contextual lives."
Design practice often benefits from understanding the complex social, economic, and cultural contexts of its users. By examining how individuals navigate different environments and leverage various resources, designers can develop products and services that are more adaptable and relevant to a wider range of users, particularly those from diverse backgrounds.
What This Means for Your Design
This research shows that understanding how people move between countries and use different resources can help designers create better products for everyone, especially for people from different cultures.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify exploring the broader context of your target users' lives, including their cultural backgrounds and mobility patterns, when defining user needs.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights the importance of understanding the transnational lives and resource circulation of users. For this design project, it suggests that a comprehensive user analysis should extend beyond immediate environmental factors to consider the broader social, cultural, and geographical contexts that shape user needs and behaviours, particularly for diverse user groups.
Source
Questions About This Research
- What does the research say about migrant experiences inform design for diverse user groups?
- Incorporate an understanding of users' transnational lives and resource management into the design process to create more relevant and effective solutions. Evidence: IMISCOE research series (2018).
- Why does "Migrant Experiences Inform Design for Diverse User Groups" matter for design?
- Design practice often benefits from understanding the complex social, economic, and cultural contexts of its users. By examining how individuals navigate different environments and leverage various resources, designers can develop products and services that are more adaptable and relevant to a wider range of users, particularly those from diverse backgrounds.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Incorporate an understanding of users' transnational lives and resource management into the design process to create more relevant and effective solutions.
- What were the main findings?
- Migrants possess multiple social statuses that are significant in transnational social fields.. Resources are circulated and re-valorised through cross-border movement.. Mobilities studies offer valuable insights into migration experiences.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative research with 37 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2018 journal from IMISCOE research series.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing for communities with diverse cultural backgrounds or those who frequently move between locations, consider how they access and utilize resources, and how their identities are shaped by these movements.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focuses specifically on Somali migrants in Britain and Switzerland, which may not be generalizable to all migrant groups or contexts.