Short answer
Incorporate tactile and sensory elements into designs for care settings, focusing on co-creation and shared experiences to enhance well-being and foster community knowledge.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- Continuum (2017)
- Method
- Qualitative research, Pilot project
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Creating bespoke sensory objects using textiles can provide immediate enjoyment for individuals with later-stage dementia while simultaneously facilitating informal knowledge exchange and empowerment among caregivers and the public. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2017 study published in Continuum. Using Qualitative research, pilot project, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Incorporate tactile and sensory elements into designs for care settings, focusing on co-creation and shared experiences to enhance well-being and foster community knowledge.
Textile-based sensory objects foster 'in the moment' pleasure and knowledge sharing for dementia care
Creating bespoke sensory objects using textiles can provide immediate enjoyment for individuals with later-stage dementia while simultaneously facilitating informal knowledge exchange and empowerment among caregivers and the public.
Continuum · 2017
Key Findings
- 01Participants' knowledge and understanding of dementia varied significantly.
- 02Each participant was able to contribute to the creation of sensory objects.
- 03The activity empowered participants by enabling them to share knowledge and contribute.
- 04The sensory objects promoted 'in the moment pleasure' for individuals with later-stage dementia.
Application
Design takeaway
Incorporate tactile and sensory elements into designs for care settings, focusing on co-creation and shared experiences to enhance well-being and foster community knowledge.
How to apply
Develop workshops where participants co-create sensory objects (e.g., textured cushions, tactile story cloths) for use in dementia care settings, ensuring the design process itself is therapeutic and educational.
Project actions
- 01Consider using tactile materials like fabrics, threads, and soft fillings to create sensory experiences.
- 02Design activities that encourage collaboration and sharing of personal stories related to the project's theme.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Focuses on user-centered benefits (pleasure, empowerment).
- +Employs a creative and accessible medium (textiles).
Limitations
The study was a pilot, so the results might not apply to everyone or every situation. The focus was on 'in the moment' pleasure, not long-term effects.
Reliability & validity
The qualitative nature of the study provides rich insights but limits generalizability. Reliability could be enhanced through standardized observation protocols if replicated.
Think critically
How might the cultural background of participants influence their engagement with textile crafts and their understanding of dementia?
Design Principles
"Design for emotional well-being through tactile engagement and participatory creation."
This approach shifts the focus from a purely biomedical 'fight' against dementia to one that prioritizes quality of life and emotional well-being. It highlights how creative, tactile engagement can bridge communication gaps and reduce the stigma associated with the disease.
What This Means for Your Design
Making special fabric things can make people with dementia feel happy right now, and it helps the people making them learn and feel more confident about dementia.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when exploring how material culture and user participation can address social issues or enhance user experience in therapeutic contexts.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research by Kenning and Treadaway (2017) demonstrates the potential of participatory design using textiles to create sensory objects that provide 'in the moment pleasure' for individuals with dementia. The study highlights how such co-creative processes can empower participants by facilitating knowledge exchange and fostering a sense of contribution, suggesting that design interventions can effectively address emotional and social needs within care contexts.
Source
Continuum
Conversations at the edge of play: media, communication and cultural intersections with dementia
journal · 2017
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about textile-based sensory objects foster 'in the moment' pleasure and knowledge sharing for dementia care?
- Incorporate tactile and sensory elements into designs for care settings, focusing on co-creation and shared experiences to enhance well-being and foster community knowledge. Evidence: Continuum (2017).
- Why does "Textile-based sensory objects foster 'in the moment' pleasure and knowledge sharing for dementia care" matter for design?
- This approach shifts the focus from a purely biomedical 'fight' against dementia to one that prioritizes quality of life and emotional well-being. It highlights how creative, tactile engagement can bridge communication gaps and reduce the stigma associated with the disease.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Incorporate tactile and sensory elements into designs for care settings, focusing on co-creation and shared experiences to enhance well-being and foster community knowledge.
- What were the main findings?
- Participants' knowledge and understanding of dementia varied significantly.. Each participant was able to contribute to the creation of sensory objects.. The activity empowered participants by enabling them to share knowledge and contribute.. The sensory objects promoted 'in the moment pleasure' for individuals with later-stage dementia.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative research, Pilot project.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2017 journal from Continuum.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- Develop workshops where participants co-create sensory objects (e.g., textured cushions, tactile story cloths) for use in dementia care settings, ensuring the design process itself is therapeutic and educational.
- What are the limitations?
- The pilot nature of the project means findings may not be generalizable without further research. The study did not extensively measure the long-term impact on dementia progression or caregiver burden.