Co-designing with Vulnerable Groups Requires Explicit Consideration of Power Dynamics and Intersectionality

Why It Matters

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.

Key Finding

The review highlights that current methods for evaluating user-centred design in health are insufficient, and that co-design with vulnerable groups needs careful attention to power and diverse user backgrounds.

Key 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.

Research Evidence

Aim: How can design practitioners effectively integrate considerations of power dynamics and intersectionality into co-design processes involving vulnerable populations within health research?

Method: Narrative Review

Procedure: The researchers conducted a narrative review of existing literature on human-centred design (HCD) methodologies applied in health research and innovation.

Context: Health research and innovation

Design Principle

Inclusivity in design requires active management of power dynamics and intersectional awareness.

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.

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.

Student Guide (IB Design Technology)

Simple Explanation: 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.

Why This Matters: Understanding power dynamics and intersectionality is crucial for creating designs that are truly equitable and effective for all users, especially in sensitive areas like healthcare.

Critical Thinking: 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?

IA-Ready Paragraph: 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.

Project Tips

• When planning user research, think about who has more 'power' in the interaction (e.g., researcher vs. participant, or different types of participants).
• Consider how different aspects of a person's identity (like age, ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic status) might affect their experience and input.

How to Use in IA

• Use this research to justify why specific methods were chosen for user engagement, particularly when working with diverse or vulnerable groups.
• Discuss how you addressed potential power imbalances or ensured intersectional considerations in your design process.

Examiner Tips

• Look for evidence that the student has considered the social context of their users and potential power dynamics in their research methods.
• Assess whether the student's design decisions are justified by a deep understanding of diverse user needs, not just surface-level preferences.

Independent Variable: Consideration of power dynamics and intersectionality in co-design.

Dependent Variable: Quality and equity of design outcomes; participant engagement and agency.

Controlled Variables: Type of health research, specific vulnerable group characteristics, chosen co-design techniques.

Strengths

• Provides a comprehensive overview of current HCD practices in health research.
• Identifies key gaps in methodology and reporting for HCD.

Critical Questions

• What specific techniques can be employed to actively mitigate power imbalances during co-design sessions?
• How can the impact of intersectionality be systematically documented and integrated into the design iteration process?

Extended Essay Application

• An Extended Essay could explore the development of a new reporting framework for HCD in health research that better accommodates the complexities of power and intersectionality.
• Investigate the ethical considerations of co-designing with specific vulnerable groups and propose best practices.

Source

The Application of Human-Centered Design Approaches in Health Research and Innovation: A Narrative Review of Current Practices · JMIR mhealth and uhealth · 2021 · 10.2196/28102