Psychosocial Inclusivity: A Framework for Designing Beyond Physical Needs

Why It Matters

As products and services become more integrated into users' lives, understanding their psychological and social needs is crucial for creating truly effective and engaging designs. This framework provides a structured approach to address these often-overlooked dimensions.

Key Finding

The research established a definition and four core components (cognitive, emotional, social, and value) that designers should consider to ensure their work is inclusive on a psychosocial level.

Key Findings

• A formal definition of psychosocial inclusivity in design was developed.
• Four key constructs for evaluating psychosocial inclusivity were identified: Cognitive, Emotional, Social, and Value.

Research Evidence

Aim: To define and establish constructs for psychosocial inclusivity in design.

Method: Mixed-methods research combining literature review, semi-structured interviews, a creative workshop, observations, and expert surveys.

Procedure: Researchers reviewed existing literature, conducted interviews and a workshop with participants in two contexts (supermarket shopping and assisted mobility services), observed user interactions, and gathered feedback from design experts.

Context: Design for older individuals' supermarket shopping and assisted mobility service users.

Design Principle

Design for the whole person, encompassing their psychological and social needs alongside their physical ones.

How to Apply

When developing new products or services, explicitly consider how users will think (cognitive), feel (emotional), interact (social), and what they will perceive as important (value) throughout their experience.

Limitations

The findings are based on specific contexts (supermarket shopping and assisted mobility) and may require adaptation for other domains.

Student Guide (IB Design Technology)

Simple Explanation: Good design isn't just about how something looks or feels physically; it's also about how it makes people think, feel, and connect with others, and what they believe is important.

Why This Matters: Understanding psychosocial factors helps create designs that are not only usable but also desirable and meaningful to a wider range of people.

Critical Thinking: How can the abstract concepts of 'emotional' and 'value' inclusivity be translated into concrete design features and measurable outcomes?

IA-Ready Paragraph: This design project investigates psychosocial inclusivity, recognizing that effective design must address users' cognitive, emotional, social, and value-based needs, not solely their physical interactions. By applying the framework of Cognitive, Emotional, Social, and Value constructs, the design aims to create a more holistic and user-centred experience.

Project Tips

• When researching user needs, ask questions that uncover emotional responses and social interactions, not just functional requirements.
• Consider how your design might impact a user's sense of self-worth or personal values.

How to Use in IA

• Use the four constructs (Cognitive, Emotional, Social, Value) to structure your user research and analysis, ensuring you explore these dimensions thoroughly.

Examiner Tips

• Demonstrate an understanding that user needs extend beyond the physical and that psychosocial factors are critical for successful design.

Independent Variable: Design considerations for psychosocial inclusivity (e.g., features addressing cognitive load, emotional engagement, social interaction, or personal values).

Dependent Variable: User experience metrics related to cognitive ease, emotional satisfaction, social connection, and perceived value.

Controlled Variables: User demographics, task complexity, environmental factors.

Strengths

• Provides a novel definition and constructs for a less-explored area of inclusive design.
• Uses a rigorous mixed-methods approach combining theoretical and empirical work.

Critical Questions

• To what extent do these constructs apply across different age groups and cultural contexts?
• How can designers effectively measure and iterate on psychosocial inclusivity during the design process?

Extended Essay Application

• An Extended Essay could explore the application of these psychosocial constructs to a specific design challenge, such as designing digital platforms for remote elderly care or educational tools for diverse learning styles.

Source

What Is Psychosocially Inclusive Design? A Definition with Constructs · The Design Journal · 2020 · 10.1080/14606925.2020.1849964