Short answer
When engaging with vulnerable populations in a design project, proactively identify and mitigate power imbalances, and ensure that diverse intersecting identities are recognized and valued throughout the design process.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- JMIR mhealth and uhealth (2021)
- Method
- Narrative Review
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Effective user-centred design, particularly in health research, necessitates acknowledging and actively managing power imbalances and diverse lived experiences among participants. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2021 study published in JMIR mhealth and uhealth. Using Narrative review, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When engaging with vulnerable populations in a design project, proactively identify and mitigate power imbalances, and ensure that diverse intersecting identities are recognized and valued throughout the design process.
Co-designing with Vulnerable Groups Requires Explicit Consideration of Power Dynamics and Intersectionality
Effective user-centred design, particularly in health research, necessitates acknowledging and actively managing power imbalances and diverse lived experiences among participants.
JMIR mhealth and uhealth · 2021
Key Findings
- 01Traditional biomedical research methods are often ill-suited for evaluating HCD-based techniques.
- 02Existing reporting guidelines for HCD lack the necessary detail for current publishing standards.
- 03Co-design sessions must explicitly consider power dimensions, agency, and intersectionality, especially when involving vulnerable groups.
Application
Design takeaway
When engaging with vulnerable populations in a design project, proactively identify and mitigate power imbalances, and ensure that diverse intersecting identities are recognized and valued throughout the design process.
How to apply
Before initiating co-design sessions with vulnerable groups, conduct a stakeholder analysis to identify potential power differentials and plan facilitation techniques that promote equitable participation.
Project actions
- 01When planning user research, think about who has more 'power' in the interaction (e.g., researcher vs. participant, or different types of participants).
- 02Consider how different aspects of a person's identity (like age, ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic status) might affect their experience and input.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a comprehensive overview of current HCD practices in health research.
- +Identifies key gaps in methodology and reporting for HCD.
Limitations
It can be challenging to fully quantify or control for power dynamics and intersectionality in a design project.
Reliability & validity
The reliability and validity of findings from a narrative review depend on the quality and breadth of the included studies. The authors acknowledge the challenge of evaluating HCD methods with traditional metrics, suggesting potential limitations in current assessment frameworks.
Think critically
How might the 'publishable detail' requirement for reporting HCD methods conflict with the depth needed to truly capture power dynamics and intersectionality in co-design?
Design Principles
"Inclusivity in design requires active management of power dynamics and intersectional awareness."
Failing to address these factors can lead to designs that do not truly meet the needs of all users, especially those from marginalized or vulnerable populations. This can result in inequitable health outcomes and a lack of trust in the design process.
What This Means for Your Design
When you design with people, especially those who might be in a less powerful position, you need to be extra careful to make sure everyone feels heard and that their unique background is respected. Standard ways of testing designs don't always work well for these user-focused methods.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify why specific methods were chosen for user engagement, particularly when working with diverse or vulnerable groups.
- 2.Discuss how you addressed potential power imbalances or ensured intersectional considerations in your design process.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights the critical need to address power dimensions and intersectionality within co-design processes, particularly when engaging with vulnerable populations in health research. The findings suggest that traditional evaluation methods are insufficient for user-centred design approaches, necessitating a more nuanced understanding of participant agency and diverse lived experiences to ensure equitable and effective design outcomes.
Source
JMIR mhealth and uhealth
The Application of Human-Centered Design Approaches in Health Research and Innovation: A Narrative Review of Current Practices
journal · 2021
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about co-designing with vulnerable groups requires explicit consideration of power dynamics and intersectionality?
- When engaging with vulnerable populations in a design project, proactively identify and mitigate power imbalances, and ensure that diverse intersecting identities are recognized and valued throughout the design process. Evidence: JMIR mhealth and uhealth (2021).
- Why does "Co-designing with Vulnerable Groups Requires Explicit Consideration of Power Dynamics and Intersectionality" matter for design?
- Failing to address these factors can lead to designs that do not truly meet the needs of all users, especially those from marginalized or vulnerable populations. This can result in inequitable health outcomes and a lack of trust in the design process.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When engaging with vulnerable populations in a design project, proactively identify and mitigate power imbalances, and ensure that diverse intersecting identities are recognized and valued throughout the design process.
- What were the main findings?
- Traditional biomedical research methods are often ill-suited for evaluating HCD-based techniques.. Existing reporting guidelines for HCD lack the necessary detail for current publishing standards.. Co-design sessions must explicitly consider power dimensions, agency, and intersectionality, especially when involving vulnerable groups.
- What research method was used?
- Narrative Review.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2021 journal from JMIR mhealth and uhealth.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- Before initiating co-design sessions with vulnerable groups, conduct a stakeholder analysis to identify potential power differentials and plan facilitation techniques that promote equitable participation.
- What are the limitations?
- The review acknowledges that current reporting standards may not fully capture the nuances of HCD methodologies, and further development in this area is needed.