Abstract
Neurological prevention science is gaining traction, with implications for people at raised familial risk of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). We examine how design can intervene in this emerging prevention space through Digesting Science (DS), a co-designed public engagement project that brings families affected by MS together through events and playful, hands-on activities in community settings. We analyse post-event open-ended evaluation forms and a follow up study using auto-photo-elicitation with semi-structured interviews with children and parents. Findings show that DS makes MS discussable without increasing anxiety, embodied activities create shared reference points and language for talking about symptoms, science and uncertainty. We conceptualise these effects as situated preparedness, readiness built through context-specific adjustments and reorganisations of care in family life. We argue that such situated design work builds the relational groundwork required for future, responsible discussions around neurological prevention.
Keywords
co-design; science and technology studies; uncertainty; experience; public engagement; prevention
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.1526
Citation
Thomson, A., Scott, H., and Dobson, R. (2026) Tangible conversations for uncertain futures: A design-led approach with families affected by Multiple Sclerosis, in Simeone, L., Gray, C. M., Verhoeven, A., de Götzen, A., Bakırlıoğlu, Y., Zohar, H., Stead, M., and Buwert, P. (eds.), DRS2026: Edinburgh, 8–12 June, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.1526
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Included in
Tangible conversations for uncertain futures: A design-led approach with families affected by Multiple Sclerosis
Neurological prevention science is gaining traction, with implications for people at raised familial risk of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). We examine how design can intervene in this emerging prevention space through Digesting Science (DS), a co-designed public engagement project that brings families affected by MS together through events and playful, hands-on activities in community settings. We analyse post-event open-ended evaluation forms and a follow up study using auto-photo-elicitation with semi-structured interviews with children and parents. Findings show that DS makes MS discussable without increasing anxiety, embodied activities create shared reference points and language for talking about symptoms, science and uncertainty. We conceptualise these effects as situated preparedness, readiness built through context-specific adjustments and reorganisations of care in family life. We argue that such situated design work builds the relational groundwork required for future, responsible discussions around neurological prevention.