In this paper, we explore how participatory design (Margolin, 1997) can be applied
to scientific research in the field of healthcare and medicine.
Though user-centred practices are already employed to support patient-side
healthcare activities (Driver et al, 2011), not as much has been done to investigate
how different design methodologies can engage researchers, being
a crucial workforce for medicine (De Covreur et al, 2011). We compare case
studies taken from design history (Maldonado, 1993, Margolin, 1992, Papanek,
2005, Roozenburg et al, 1995) with an experiment of our own, concerning the
design of an Oscillating Perfusion Bioreactor, a bio-medical device now being
used as a research platform for tissue engineering and regeneration. Taking
autologous cells, the OPB performs 18 parallel cell culture threads, in a multiarray
of confined chambers.
Figure 1: OPB: early model, Milan 2011
Our design intervention started from the perfusion patent and an early prototype
of the machine (fig. 1), presenting issues in weight, scalability, kinematics
and affordance. How can designers intervene into research to evolve its
equipment? How can industrial design get involved as a structured discipline
into the development of science? What can designers improve in the performance
of the final product? How can design research support research in
science? Our research methodology concerns a step-by-step analysis of both
the evolving research environment and healthcare researchers, evaluating
their habits, expectancies, behavioural and cultural schemes (Papanek, 2005,
Whiteley, 1993), providing clues for engaging better design practices, both in
terms of final product qualities and time-effectiveness. The findings provide
an answer to these questions, with a detailed theoretical position concerning
the disciplinary code of industrial design (McDonough et al 2002) and practical
indications for taking better policies when dealing with users (Boztepe, 2007)
and applying design management to healthcare research.
D4H2013
to scientific research in the field of healthcare and medicine.
Though user-centred practices are already employed to support patient-side
healthcare activities (Driver et al, 2011), not as much has been done to investigate
how different design methodologies can engage researchers, being
a crucial workforce for medicine (De Covreur et al, 2011). We compare case
studies taken from design history (Maldonado, 1993, Margolin, 1992, Papanek,
2005, Roozenburg et al, 1995) with an experiment of our own, concerning the
design of an Oscillating Perfusion Bioreactor, a bio-medical device now being
used as a research platform for tissue engineering and regeneration. Taking
autologous cells, the OPB performs 18 parallel cell culture threads, in a multiarray
of confined chambers.
Figure 1: OPB: early model, Milan 2011
Our design intervention started from the perfusion patent and an early prototype
of the machine (fig. 1), presenting issues in weight, scalability, kinematics
and affordance. How can designers intervene into research to evolve its
equipment? How can industrial design get involved as a structured discipline
into the development of science? What can designers improve in the performance
of the final product? How can design research support research in
science? Our research methodology concerns a step-by-step analysis of both
the evolving research environment and healthcare researchers, evaluating
their habits, expectancies, behavioural and cultural schemes (Papanek, 2005,
Whiteley, 1993), providing clues for engaging better design practices, both in
terms of final product qualities and time-effectiveness. The findings provide
an answer to these questions, with a detailed theoretical position concerning
the disciplinary code of industrial design (McDonough et al 2002) and practical
indications for taking better policies when dealing with users (Boztepe, 2007)
and applying design management to healthcare research.
D4H2013
