Mobility and Learning Engaging People in Design of their Everyday Environments.pdfVIP

Mobility and Learning: Engaging People in Design of their Everyday Environments 1* 1 2^ Arne Svensk , Bodil Jönsson , Lone Malmborg 1 Design Sciences, Lund University, Sweden. 2 Arts and Communication, Malmö University, Sweden. * Address for correspondence: Arne Svensk, Certec, LTH, P.O. Box 118, SE-22100, Lund, Sweden. Tel.: +46 46 222 46 94; Fax: +46 46 222 44 31; E-mail: arne.svensk@certec.lth.se . ^ Lone Malmborg, Arts Communication, Malmö University, Beijerskajen 8, SE-205 06 Malmö, Sweden. E- mail: lone.malmborg@k3.mah.se Abstract “Mobility and Learning Environments” is a three-year project in which we have collaborated with people with cognitive difficulties at a day activity centre in Lund, Sweden and college students at Arts and Communication (K3), Malmö University, Sweden. The project is based on the participants themselves being engaged in the design of their everyday environments. For people with considerable difficulties in communicating, a new means of expressing their dreams was required. This paper describes how we used cultural probes to inspire, inform and surprise those of us who took part in the design process. Keywords: cultural probes, inspiration, cognitive abilities, engaging users Introduction In recent years we have seen a change in attitude from considering people with disabilities and older people as special cases requiring special design solutions, to involving them in their everyday life routines through a more inclusive __________________________________________________________________________________ 1 Mobility and Learning: Engaging People in Design of their Everyday Environments A. Svensk, B. Jönsson, L. Malmborg. Include 2005 approach to the design of artefacts, services and buildings (Coleman 2005). Particularly important for this inclusive approach is understanding the needs and wi