Short answer
Implement a phased living lab approach to systematically gather and act upon the emotional feedback of older users during design and development.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- Technology Innovation Management Review (2017)
- Method
- Qualitative research, Case study
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
A structured living lab approach, encompassing exploration, experimentation, and evaluation phases, effectively supports older adults in communicating their emotions throughout a design project. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2017 study published in Technology Innovation Management Review. Using Qualitative research, case study, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Implement a phased living lab approach to systematically gather and act upon the emotional feedback of older users during design and development.
Living Lab Framework Enhances Older Adult Emotional Expression in Design Projects
A structured living lab approach, encompassing exploration, experimentation, and evaluation phases, effectively supports older adults in communicating their emotions throughout a design project.
Technology Innovation Management Review · 2017
Key Findings
- 01The exploration phase allowed for initial emotional expression and identification of user needs.
- 02The experimentation phase provided opportunities for users to react emotionally to prototypes and iterative designs.
- 03The evaluation phase enabled reflection on emotional experiences and overall satisfaction with the design process and outcomes.
- 04A structured approach is vital for eliciting nuanced emotional feedback from older users.
Application
Design takeaway
Implement a phased living lab approach to systematically gather and act upon the emotional feedback of older users during design and development.
How to apply
When designing for older adults, structure your research into distinct phases (e.g., initial discovery, prototype testing, final review) and use targeted prompts and activities in each phase to encourage emotional sharing.
Project actions
- 01Clearly define the stages of your user research (e.g., initial interviews, prototype testing, final feedback).
- 02Develop specific questions or activities for each stage that encourage users to talk about their feelings.
- 03Observe and document not just what users say, but also their non-verbal emotional cues.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a structured framework for capturing user emotions over time.
- +Emphasizes the importance of user voice in the design process.
Limitations
This approach might require more time and resources than a single-stage user study. Ensuring consistent emotional expression across all participants can be challenging.
Reliability & validity
The study's validity is strengthened by its focus on a specific user group and its structured, phased approach. Reliability could be enhanced by using multiple researchers to triangulate emotional observations and by employing standardized interview protocols within each phase.
Think critically
How might the specific technological context or the nature of the design intervention influence the types of emotional responses elicited from older users within a living lab setting?
Design Principles
"Embrace iterative user engagement through structured living lab phases to uncover and integrate emotional user insights."
Understanding and incorporating the emotional responses of users, particularly older adults, is crucial for designing inclusive and empathetic products and services. This framework provides a systematic way to gather rich qualitative data that might otherwise be overlooked, leading to more user-centred outcomes.
What This Means for Your Design
Using a step-by-step process (like a living lab) helps older people share how they feel about a product as it's being designed.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing your methodology for gathering user feedback, particularly if you are using a phased approach or focusing on emotional responses.
- 2.Use the living lab phases as a model for structuring your own user research timeline.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The research by Pedell et al. (2017) highlights the efficacy of a structured living lab methodology, comprising exploration, experimentation, and evaluation phases, in supporting older users to articulate their emotions throughout a design project. This phased approach is crucial for capturing nuanced emotional feedback that informs user-centred design decisions.
Source
Technology Innovation Management Review
Methods for Supporting Older Users in Communicating Their Emotions at Different Phases of a Living Lab Project
journal · 2017
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about living lab framework enhances older adult emotional expression in design projects?
- Implement a phased living lab approach to systematically gather and act upon the emotional feedback of older users during design and development. Evidence: Technology Innovation Management Review (2017).
- Why does "Living Lab Framework Enhances Older Adult Emotional Expression in Design Projects" matter for design?
- Understanding and incorporating the emotional responses of users, particularly older adults, is crucial for designing inclusive and empathetic products and services. This framework provides a systematic way to gather rich qualitative data that might otherwise be overlooked, leading to more user-centred outcomes.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Implement a phased living lab approach to systematically gather and act upon the emotional feedback of older users during design and development.
- What were the main findings?
- The exploration phase allowed for initial emotional expression and identification of user needs.. The experimentation phase provided opportunities for users to react emotionally to prototypes and iterative designs.. The evaluation phase enabled reflection on emotional experiences and overall satisfaction with the design process and outcomes.. A structured approach is vital for eliciting nuanced emotional feedback from older users.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative research, Case study.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2017 journal from Technology Innovation Management Review.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing for older adults, structure your research into distinct phases (e.g., initial discovery, prototype testing, final review) and use targeted prompts and activities in each phase to encourage emotional sharing.
- What are the limitations?
- The specific methods used may need adaptation for different cultural contexts or technological domains. The generalizability of findings to younger demographics or different user groups was not explored.