Conference Agenda

Pain is universal, yet its invisible nature makes it difficult to express or understand.

Understanding the intricate mechanics of chronic pain and how to manage it effectively can be particularly challenging. This paper describes research exploring how human-centred design, transdisciplinary collaboration, and participatory approaches can produce diverse design outcomes that support the management and treatment of chronic pain. Two case studies are presented: 1) an exploration of how pain might be expressed through illustration and storytelling to offer insight into lived experience, and 2) how experiences of pain could be made more tangible through physical artefacts to support patient–clinician communication.

The resulting design outcomes – an illustrated resource for patients and a tangible toolkit for use in therapeutic settings – present novel alternatives to existing communication tools. The involvement of both learned experts and those with lived experience ensured these outcomes were relevant, usable, and implementable in real-world contexts.

This paper presents a design intervention study, conducted at Peking University Third Hospital (PUTH), which developed artefacts to support doctor-parent communication during neonatal care. Through a series of design interventions, a set of design probes and toolkits were developed to understand the current doctor-parent communication context within local care settings, and to prompt incremental changes in these communication practices. Field observations and evaluation interviews, based on these artefacts, demonstrated that the artefacts helped to change patterns of communication from consultative mode information delivery to collaboration by partner mode. They also increased parents’ confidence in their ability to maintain the health of their babies themselves, and enabled doctors to understand parents’ requirements and views. This paper presents the design process and provides practical guidance to designers intending to use artefacts as design research tools in healthcare settings.

Co-occurring trauma and substance use disorder (SUD) are common and clinically consequential. Evidence supports concurrent, integrated responses within trauma-informed systems, yet implementation remains uneven. This study aims to identify design principles for integrated, trauma-informed care pathways by examining current service pathways and workforce capabilities across mental health (MH), alcohol and other drugs (AOD), and community health. We report insights from two interrelated co-design workshops (n>40) that included AOD/MH clinicians, hospital staff, peer and lived-experience practitioners, and community partners. Workshops used personas to surface barriers, enablers, and attributes of an enabling environment. Thematic analysis yielded five themes: Consumer experience; Workforce culture; Service environment; Service model & pathways; and Governance & leadership. We translate these into seven pathway principles — No-Wrong-Door & Single-Story Choice; Care in Parallel; Right-Time Navigation; Trusted Transitions; Role Clarity & Shared Accountability; Cultural Safety by Design; and Supported Workforce — framed as levers to operationalise integrated care.

This paper presents a co-designed, nature-based intervention supporting NHS staff wellbeing through food growing. The NHS Home Growing Group (HGG) was collaboratively developed by DesignHOPES, NHS24, and a community garden. Home growing was identified as a feasible and meaningful activity compatible with shift work, with the potential of improving mental wellbeing in line with the NHS’s Five Steps to mental wellbeing model: connect, be active, keep learning, give, and take notice. Following a feasibility study, the 12-week intervention (April–July 2025) engaged 60 NHS staff using windowsill-growing kits designed for flexibility, autonomy, and asynchronous participation. Kits were sustainably sourced through recycled pots, donated seeds, and cuttings, and included creative materials, a reflective diary, and access to an online sharing platform. Analysis of participant diaries evidenced wellbeing benefits across all five pathways. The HGG demonstrates a simple intervention that can translate organisational wellbeing strategies into accessible, meaningful, and sustainable everyday practices.

We report on a series of sensory workshops and research interview training conducted with young Autistic people with lived experience of eating disordered behaviour. This under-researched co-occurence has been explored by a collaborative of clinical psychologists, peer researchers and participants through creative methods novel in this domain, led by a participatory design researcher. The paper outlines the design of the workshops, and discusses the insights generated around the key themes of environment, eating utensils and foods. It proposes a set of recommendations and creative opportunities for the hospitality industry to explore a range of approaches including ‘Autism-friendly days’ that may make eating space more accessible to individuals who are currently excluded due to sensory issues. It finishes with our reflections on learning to adapt participatory sensory workshop materials and processes for Autistic research participants.

This paper details the development and impact of the "Lembrei de Você" (I Remembered You) project, an inclusive design initiative that created a digital platform to combat loneliness and promote autonomy among the visually impaired, especially the elderly, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using participatory methods, the research led to the creation of a platform that manages and distributes audio messages through a solidarity network of readers and listeners. The study describes the design process, from accessibility requirements to implementation using WordPress. Results show the platform successfully optimized project logistics and fostered an inclusive digital environment, enhancing social interaction and cognitive engagement through orality. The project is concluded to be a replicable model of social innovation, contributing significantly to inclusive design at the intersection of digital accessibility, psychosocial support, and aging.