Design Probes for People with Dementia

Abstract

In order to include persons with dementia in the MinD project actively, design probes were developed to provide insight into their perspectives. We applied probes due to their exploratory character and participation through self-documentation. The aim of this paper is to reflect on the design of the probes in relation to the outcomes as a source of inspiration for designers. More specifically, we investigate the openness and tangibility of the probes, and their content relating to the past, the current or the future. The five participants completed the probes to a large extent. The openness of assignments influenced their completion and the resulting value for empathizing and inspiration for designers: More defined assignments led to more sharing of personal and sensitive information than very open ones. While crafty, tangible assignments were filled in more extensively than less tangible ones, the classical writing assignments resulted more often in more introspective and reflective information from participants. Furthermore, participants filled in assignments about past memories more extensively than those relating to future goals.

Designing for Everyday Sounds at Home with People with Dementia and their Partners

“…Physical artifacts, materials, or prototypes provide tangible prompts for social engagement and create a pleasant activity that reduces the potential burden for the person with dementia [50,80]. Bespoke design probes can cue personal narratives and values in people with dementia and lead to a better understanding of the everyday experiences of dementia by the designer or researcher [35,92]. Concrete examples of technologies or designs can convey abstract concepts to people with aphasia [27].…”

Working with Experts with Experience: Charting Co-production and Co-design in the Development of HCI-Based Design

“…The MinD probes included, for example, pop-up paper houses and Kilner storage jars, to support questions with visual metaphors designed to promote memory and initiate conversations about the everyday life and needs of a person with dementia (Figure 2). The MinD probes are more fully described in Garde, van der Voort and Niedderer (2018).…”

Editorial: Design for Subjective Wellbeing

“…Continuing with the participatory design theme Garde et al (2018) in their paper titled "Design probes for people with dementia" developed a particular type of design probe to be used by people with dementia and reflected on the outcomes of using them as a source of inspiration for designers. Their aim with the probes was to "develop insight into the perspectives and life of people with dementia to enable a more empathic design approach and to identify needs, opportunities and ideas for mindful design interventions".…”