Abstract
Co-design plays a critical role in the development of Assistive Technology (AT), enabling collaboration, iterative refinement, and user-centred solutions that adapt to the evolving needs of individuals with disabilities. While existing research highlights the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration in co-design, this study explores how industrial designers could work directly with individuals with disabilities outside traditional clinical hierarchies to adapt off-the-shelf devices for leisure therapies. Leisure therapies often involve assistive needs less critical than those of medical devices, providing an opportunity for users to actively articulate their solutions. This case study details the application of co-design methods, integrated with making, to adapt an off-the-shelf DSLR camera for independent use by a person with total limb amputation, referred to as the co-designer. By adapting the camera through collaborative making, the process enabled the co-designer to re-engage with their photography hobby after a period of inactivity. The study illustrates the potential of design practice to support the creation of aids for leisure therapy, enabling hobbies that foster mental health and well-being beyond traditional medical AT. This research highlights the context-specific value of industrial designers working with users to adapt off-the-shelf assistive devices and iteratively evolve prototypes through hands-on practices including physical adaptations and fabrication. This co-design approach fosters meaningful dialogue, empowers co-designers, and ensures the adaptive solution evolves to meet their changing needs and reflect their lived experience. The study contributes preliminary insights into how early involvement of industrial designers in co-designing AT can support individuals with disabilities in pursuing their hobbies.
Keywords
Co-design; User-centred design; Iterative prototyping; Adaptive assistive technology
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.585
Citation
Riny, D., Page, R.,and Heiss, L.(2025) Co-designing Adaptive Camera Aid: A Collaborative Making Approach, in Chang, C.-Y., and Hsu, Y. (eds.), IASDR 2025: Design Next, 02-05 December, Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.585
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Track 9 - Healthcare Design
Co-designing Adaptive Camera Aid: A Collaborative Making Approach
Co-design plays a critical role in the development of Assistive Technology (AT), enabling collaboration, iterative refinement, and user-centred solutions that adapt to the evolving needs of individuals with disabilities. While existing research highlights the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration in co-design, this study explores how industrial designers could work directly with individuals with disabilities outside traditional clinical hierarchies to adapt off-the-shelf devices for leisure therapies. Leisure therapies often involve assistive needs less critical than those of medical devices, providing an opportunity for users to actively articulate their solutions. This case study details the application of co-design methods, integrated with making, to adapt an off-the-shelf DSLR camera for independent use by a person with total limb amputation, referred to as the co-designer. By adapting the camera through collaborative making, the process enabled the co-designer to re-engage with their photography hobby after a period of inactivity. The study illustrates the potential of design practice to support the creation of aids for leisure therapy, enabling hobbies that foster mental health and well-being beyond traditional medical AT. This research highlights the context-specific value of industrial designers working with users to adapt off-the-shelf assistive devices and iteratively evolve prototypes through hands-on practices including physical adaptations and fabrication. This co-design approach fosters meaningful dialogue, empowers co-designers, and ensures the adaptive solution evolves to meet their changing needs and reflect their lived experience. The study contributes preliminary insights into how early involvement of industrial designers in co-designing AT can support individuals with disabilities in pursuing their hobbies.