Abstract
This paper explores the integration of system-level design thinking with product-level design outcomes to address barriers to sports participation for people with disabilities. A co-design workshop involving 9 participants with a mix of lived experience, domain expertise, and design practice, was conducted to identify product requirements and broader system factors to inform the development of an adaptive virtual handcycle trainer to be deployed in virtual cycling centres. Values mapping, design evaluation and experience mapping activities were conducted. Co-design workshop outcomes emphasise that equitable participation in adaptive sports necessitates more than functional hardware; it requires the deliberate design of an inclusive ecosystem that addresses environmental, structural, psychological and social dimensions. Findings illustrate how product-level design considerations, such as adjustable equipment, modularity and platform interoperability, can relate to system-level transformation, such as improved accessibility, motivation and community building. The design approach implemented in this paper supports a post-paradigm shift in design thinking, moving beyond traditional problem-solving to embrace broader, collaborative practices, while still acknowledging the continued value of traditional human-centred design methods. It highlights how systemic design, when aligned with human-centred design, can assist the coordination and planning of design activity for complex challenges. This research underscores the value of participatory design approaches in legit imi sing and specifying design considerations, contributing to a growing discourse on socially responsive design approaches.
Keywords
Co-design; Human-centred design; Systemic design; Adaptive sports
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.194
Citation
Swann, L., Scharoun, L., Rezayan, L.,and Stewart, S.(2025) Micro to Macro: Co-designing Product and System Level Considerations for Inclusive Sport Technologies, in Chang, C.-Y., and Hsu, Y. (eds.), IASDR 2025: Design Next, 02-05 December, Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.194
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Track 6 - Co-creation
Micro to Macro: Co-designing Product and System Level Considerations for Inclusive Sport Technologies
This paper explores the integration of system-level design thinking with product-level design outcomes to address barriers to sports participation for people with disabilities. A co-design workshop involving 9 participants with a mix of lived experience, domain expertise, and design practice, was conducted to identify product requirements and broader system factors to inform the development of an adaptive virtual handcycle trainer to be deployed in virtual cycling centres. Values mapping, design evaluation and experience mapping activities were conducted. Co-design workshop outcomes emphasise that equitable participation in adaptive sports necessitates more than functional hardware; it requires the deliberate design of an inclusive ecosystem that addresses environmental, structural, psychological and social dimensions. Findings illustrate how product-level design considerations, such as adjustable equipment, modularity and platform interoperability, can relate to system-level transformation, such as improved accessibility, motivation and community building. The design approach implemented in this paper supports a post-paradigm shift in design thinking, moving beyond traditional problem-solving to embrace broader, collaborative practices, while still acknowledging the continued value of traditional human-centred design methods. It highlights how systemic design, when aligned with human-centred design, can assist the coordination and planning of design activity for complex challenges. This research underscores the value of participatory design approaches in legit imi sing and specifying design considerations, contributing to a growing discourse on socially responsive design approaches.