Occupational Therapy News OTnews July 2019 | Page 41

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INCLUSIVE DESIGN FEATURE
Five detailed observation sessions were
Then we explored texture, which
conducted at a day centre and two nursing
demonstrated that participants
Holding was
homes. Observations were carried out
wanted a range; the majority
frequently observed,
passively in a group setting for roughly an
chose a comforting texture such
including
holding
hands,
clothes
hour each time, with notes being made on
as soft, warm or fluffy, with
the natural actions of people in the room who
a contrast of shiny, matt or
and objects. Picking and pulling,
had not been given an object to handle or
grainy.
most
often
of
clothing,
was
being otherwise occupied, therefore making
Stage two considered
common. Arranging, stroking
use of their clothing and environment for
integral features, with the most
sensory stimulation.
popular feature being pockets
and rummaging or rustling
The most common observed action was
or containing and folding, with
were also noted throughout
handling an edge, which included running
many also mentioning sections or
the visits.
fingers along edges of clothing, paper, and
connections.
furniture and feeling edges of fingers, rings,
Finally the concept of add-ons
clothing etc.
was explored, which produced diverse
Holding was frequently observed, including holding hands,
responses that could be categorised into
clothes and objects. Picking and pulling, most often of clothing,
discovery, relaxation, occupation, themes and stories, discovery
was common. Arranging, stroking and rummaging or rustling were
being the most popular category.
also noted throughout the visits.
Due to the constricted timetables of our network the design
We held two interactive workshops, and created three
workshops did not have the attendance we required for diverse
personas using the Pool Activity Level (Pool 2008). One persona
feedback. Therefore, we created an interactive design kit that
was of a gentleman in his eighties living at home alone with
could be completed task by task; this took participants through
sensory stage dementia, another, a lady with early stages of
the same experience as the design workshops, but could be
dementia in her seventies living at home with her husband, and
picked up and put down as required.
the third, a lady in her nineties living in a nursing home, cared for
Using these two choices of exercise participation meant we
in a bed or reclining chair, with sensory, reflex stage of dementia.
had 16 completed design kits.
Each participant was taken through two stages of tasks to
An ideation session involving the Designability therapists and
create a visual representation of a sensory product for their
designers allowed us to create a list of key design requirements to
designated persona.
use going forward, which combined these findings.
Stage one explored shape, with rectangular and oblong being
With the key requirements in mind, the team had a day of
most popular, with participants creating or describing a lap-based,
concept modelling and physical concept exploration. Using fabrics
portable item with rounded edges.
of a variety of weights, including calico, we were able to annotate
Colour was explored next with yellows, oranges and blues
the models as we went along and develop an understanding of
being most popular, with participants wanting a base colour often
the form the concepts could take.
in a neutral tone with contrast or pop colours to focus or draw
We created models and explored the restrictions, versatility,
attention to certain design features.
aesthetics and feasibility of each concept.
OTnews July 2019 41