Short answer

When designing digital tools for community engagement, focus first on creating accessible and inclusive experiences, recognizing that fostering deeper social cohesion will require ongoing adaptation and community-led input.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction (2023)
Method: Case Study / Design Research
Evidence: Moderate effect

Digital tools designed with participatory approaches can create inclusive cultural spaces that serve as a foundation for social cohesion among diverse communities. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction. Using Case study / design research, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing digital tools for community engagement, focus first on creating accessible and inclusive experiences, recognizing that fostering deeper social cohesion will require ongoing adaptation and community-led input.

Study

User-Centred DesignRecentModerate effect

Digital heritage tools can foster social inclusion as a precursor to cohesion

Digital tools designed with participatory approaches can create inclusive cultural spaces that serve as a foundation for social cohesion among diverse communities.

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction · 2023

Key Findings

01Digital tools can effectively support social inclusion by providing accessible platforms for cultural participation.
02Social cohesion is a more complex outcome that requires deeper engagement and is appropriated differently by various communities.
03Participatory design is essential for tailoring digital tools to the specific needs and contexts of marginalized groups.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When developing digital platforms for community projects, involve community members throughout the design process and pilot test with diverse user groups to ensure inclusivity.

Project actions

01When designing a digital product for a specific community, actively involve members of that community in the design and testing phases.
02Consider how your design can address barriers to participation and create a sense of belonging.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can a digital cultural heritage tool, designed with a participatory approach, support social inclusion and foster social cohesion in marginalized communities?

MethodCase Study / Design Research

ProcedureThe researchers designed and evaluated a digital storytelling application focused on cultural heritage with three distinct marginalized communities. They analyzed user interaction with the application to understand community needs and desires regarding social inclusion and cohesion.

ContextCommunity engagement, digital heritage, social inclusion initiatives

Variables

IVDesign of the digital cultural heritage tool (participatory approach).

DVLevels of social inclusion and social cohesion within marginalized communities.

CVSocio-cultural context of the communities (Barcelona, Paris, Lisbon).

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Addresses a timely and relevant social issue.
+Employs a participatory design approach.
+Evaluates the intervention across diverse community contexts.

Limitations

The specific digital tool used in the study might not be universally applicable. The study's focus on three specific communities limits broad generalization.

Reliability & validity

The study's validity is strengthened by its application across multiple diverse communities, providing a broader perspective. Reliability could be enhanced by longitudinal studies to track the sustained impact on cohesion.

Think critically

To what extent can a digital tool alone foster social cohesion, or does it primarily serve as a facilitator for pre-existing community dynamics?

Design Principles

"Design for inclusion first, then facilitate cohesion through iterative, community-driven development."

As societies become more diverse, designers must consider how digital products can bridge cultural divides. Understanding the nuances of how different groups engage with and adapt digital heritage tools is crucial for creating genuinely inclusive experiences that can lead to stronger community bonds.

What This Means for Your Design

Digital tools can help people feel included in cultural activities, which is the first step to building stronger community bonds. However, making people feel truly connected and cohesive is more complex and depends on how each community uses the tool.

How to use in your project

1.Use this research to justify the importance of user research and participatory design in your own design project, especially if your project aims to serve a specific community or address social issues.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research by Nisi et al. (2023) demonstrates that digital heritage tools can be effective in promoting social inclusion by lowering participation barriers. However, it also highlights that achieving social cohesion is a more nuanced outcome that requires deeper community engagement and is subject to diverse interpretations and appropriations by different groups. This underscores the importance of a user-centred, participatory design approach to ensure digital interventions genuinely meet community needs and foster meaningful connections.

Source

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction

"Connected to the people": Social Inclusion & Cohesion in Action through a Cultural Heritage Digital Tool

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about digital heritage tools can foster social inclusion as a precursor to cohesion?: When designing digital tools for community engagement, focus first on creating accessible and inclusive experiences, recognizing that fostering deeper social cohesion will require ongoing adaptation and community-led input. Evidence: Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction (2023).
Why does "Digital heritage tools can foster social inclusion as a precursor to cohesion" matter for design?: As societies become more diverse, designers must consider how digital products can bridge cultural divides. Understanding the nuances of how different groups engage with and adapt digital heritage tools is crucial for creating genuinely inclusive experiences that can lead to stronger community bonds.
How can designers apply this research?: When designing digital tools for community engagement, focus first on creating accessible and inclusive experiences, recognizing that fostering deeper social cohesion will require ongoing adaptation and community-led input.
What were the main findings?: Digital tools can effectively support social inclusion by providing accessible platforms for cultural participation.. Social cohesion is a more complex outcome that requires deeper engagement and is appropriated differently by various communities.. Participatory design is essential for tailoring digital tools to the specific needs and contexts of marginalized groups.
What research method was used?: Case Study / Design Research.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When developing digital platforms for community projects, involve community members throughout the design process and pilot test with diverse user groups to ensure inclusivity.
What are the limitations?: The study focused on specific marginalized communities, and findings may not generalize to all contexts. The long-term impact on social cohesion was not fully assessed.