Short answer

Designers should adopt a flexible, co-creative approach, anticipating that users will adapt and evolve technology in ways that extend its intended functionality, particularly when designing for individuals with cognitive or sensory impairments.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: CoDesign (2015)
Method: Co-design and iterative prototyping
Evidence: Strong effect

Co-designing interactive prototypes with individuals with cognitive/sensory impairments and their proxies fosters novel forms of expression and social interaction, revealing unexpected user adaptations. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2015 study published in CoDesign. Using Co-design and iterative prototyping, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers should adopt a flexible, co-creative approach, anticipating that users will adapt and evolve technology in ways that extend its intended functionality, particularly when designing for individuals with cognitive or sensory impairments.

Study

User-Centred DesignHigh ImpactStrong effect

Design After Design: Empowering Expression for Individuals with Cognitive and Sensory Impairments

CoDesign · 2015

Key Findings

01Prototypes facilitated concrete expression of likes, dislikes, capabilities, emotional wants, and needs.
02Users engaged in 'design after design,' appropriating and modifying the prototypes in unexpected ways.
03The technology fostered new forms of social interaction and expression, surprising carers and designers.
04The co-design process empowered participants, giving them greater capacity for expression and agency in the design process.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When designing for users with cognitive or sensory impairments, involve them directly in the design process and provide them with opportunities to modify and personalize the technology post-deployment.

Project actions

01Involve target users in early ideation and prototyping.
02Plan for user modifications and adaptations after the initial design is complete.
03Document how users appropriate and change the design, as this is a key part of the design process.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can co-design and iterative prototyping facilitate new forms of communication and expression for individuals with cognitive or sensory impairments, and what insights can be gained from their subsequent 'design after design' adaptations?

MethodCo-design and iterative prototyping

ProcedureResearchers engaged in co-design workshops with individuals with cognitive/sensory impairments and their proxies. They developed and deployed simple interactive prototypes, observing how participants used, adapted, and further designed ('design after design') the technology to express their needs, wants, and capabilities.

ContextAssistive technology design for individuals with cognitive or sensory impairments.

Variables

IV["Co-design process","Interactive prototypes"]

DV["Forms of expression","Social interaction","User adaptations ('design after design')"]

CV["Participant groups (cognitive/sensory impairments, proxies)","Prototype functionality"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Direct engagement with target user groups.
+Focus on user-led innovation through 'design after design'.
+Exploration of novel communication methods.

Limitations

The complexity of cognitive and sensory impairments means that findings from one group may not apply to another. The prototypes were simple, and more complex technologies might have different adaptation patterns.

Reliability & validity

The study's validity is strengthened by the direct observation of user behaviour and adaptation. Reliability might be a concern due to the qualitative nature and potential variability in user interpretation and adaptation strategies.

Think critically

To what extent can the 'design after design' phenomenon be anticipated and facilitated by designers, rather than simply observed?

Design Principles

"User agency and iterative adaptation are crucial drivers of effective design, especially for assistive technologies."

This approach challenges traditional design assumptions by prioritizing the lived experiences and creative adaptations of users. It highlights the potential for technology to not only support but also expand the expressive capabilities and social connections of marginalized user groups.

What This Means for Your Design

When you design something for people with disabilities, let them help you design it, and then let them change it to suit themselves. They will surprise you with how they use it and make it their own, which can lead to even better designs and more connection.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing user involvement, iterative design, or designing for accessibility.
2.Use the concept of 'design after design' to explain how users can improve or personalize a product.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This design project draws inspiration from research by Brereton et al. (2015), which highlights the power of 'design after design' where users, particularly those with cognitive or sensory impairments, actively adapt and evolve prototypes. This approach underscores the importance of user agency and iterative development in creating inclusive and effective solutions, suggesting that designers should embrace user-led modifications as a source of innovation and deeper user engagement.

Source

CoDesign

Design after design to bridge between people living with cognitive or sensory impairments, their friends and proxies

journal · 2015

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about design after design: empowering expression for individuals with cognitive and sensory impairments?: Designers should adopt a flexible, co-creative approach, anticipating that users will adapt and evolve technology in ways that extend its intended functionality, particularly when designing for individuals with cognitive or sensory impairments. Evidence: CoDesign (2015).
Why does "Design After Design: Empowering Expression for Individuals with Cognitive and Sensory Impairments" matter for design?: This approach challenges traditional design assumptions by prioritizing the lived experiences and creative adaptations of users. It highlights the potential for technology to not only support but also expand the expressive capabilities and social connections of marginalized user groups.
How can designers apply this research?: Designers should adopt a flexible, co-creative approach, anticipating that users will adapt and evolve technology in ways that extend its intended functionality, particularly when designing for individuals with cognitive or sensory impairments.
What were the main findings?: Prototypes facilitated concrete expression of likes, dislikes, capabilities, emotional wants, and needs.. Users engaged in 'design after design,' appropriating and modifying the prototypes in unexpected ways.. The technology fostered new forms of social interaction and expression, surprising carers and designers.. The co-design process empowered participants, giving them greater capacity for expression and agency in the design process.
What research method was used?: Co-design and iterative prototyping.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2015 journal from CoDesign.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing for users with cognitive or sensory impairments, involve them directly in the design process and provide them with opportunities to modify and personalize the technology post-deployment.
What are the limitations?: The study focused on specific prototypes and user groups; generalizability to all cognitive/sensory impairments may vary. The long-term impact and scalability of 'design after design' require further investigation.