Designing Smart Solutions for Vulnerable Users
Products, Services, Processes and Methodologies
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 27. November 2026
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-1-041-13000-0 (ISBN)
Description
This book explores innovative design approaches in healthcare and wellbeing. It brings together research and practical applications that showcase how modern design principles can transform the lives of individuals with motor or cognitive impairments. Through multidisciplinary perspectives, it examines the critical role of smart solutions in enhancing autonomy, giving individuals their independence, and improving quality of life for vulnerable people.
Readers will discover theoretical frameworks and real-world case studies that reveal the power of Human-Centered Design, User-Centered Design, and Inclusive Design principles. The book combines contemporary technologies with proven design methodologies, offering practical insights into developing targeted solutions that address specific user needs for the most vulnerable in society. It bridges the gap between theory and application and provides invaluable guidance for creating sustainable, effective healthcare solutions that truly make a difference in people's lives. Highly practical in its approach, readers will receive actionable insights to enhance their understanding and practice, leading to better and more effective results in the workplace.
Designing Smart Solutions for Vulnerable Users: Products, Services, Processes and Methodologies is an essential resource for professionals committed to advancing healthcare design and implementation, including human factors workers, biomedical engineers, software developers, industrial designers and healthcare practitioners.
Readers will discover theoretical frameworks and real-world case studies that reveal the power of Human-Centered Design, User-Centered Design, and Inclusive Design principles. The book combines contemporary technologies with proven design methodologies, offering practical insights into developing targeted solutions that address specific user needs for the most vulnerable in society. It bridges the gap between theory and application and provides invaluable guidance for creating sustainable, effective healthcare solutions that truly make a difference in people's lives. Highly practical in its approach, readers will receive actionable insights to enhance their understanding and practice, leading to better and more effective results in the workplace.
Designing Smart Solutions for Vulnerable Users: Products, Services, Processes and Methodologies is an essential resource for professionals committed to advancing healthcare design and implementation, including human factors workers, biomedical engineers, software developers, industrial designers and healthcare practitioners.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Professional Reference
Illustrations
51 s/w Abbildungen, 31 s/w Photographien bzw. Rasterbilder, 20 s/w Zeichnungen
20 Line drawings, black and white; 31 Halftones, black and white; 51 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-041-13000-0 (9781041130000)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Silvia Imbesi is a freelance architect and designer based in Italy. She holds a Master's in Architecture, a Bachelor's in Industrial Design, and a Ph.D. in Inclusive Design from the University of Ferrara, Italy. Since 2012, she has also served as a Temporary Professor and Research Fellow at the University of Ferrara, Italy, focusing on human-centered methodologies, inclusive design of IoT-based devices, Smart mHealth systems, design for the elderly, and design for health and wellbeing. Dr. Imbesi is an invited speaker at international conferences and has authored over 40 scientific publications on innovative care solutions for fragile users and special populations.
Alessia Buffagni is Assistant Professor in Product Design at Iuav University of Venice, Italy, where she leads the MEDLAB - Medical Design Laboratory. Dr. Buffagni holds a Bachelor's in Industrial Design, a Master's in Product Design, and a Ph.D. 'Doctor Europaeus' in Design Science. Her research focuses on health product design, including assistive wearables, smart clothing, and solutions for ageing and vulnerable users. Dr. Buffagni collaborates with academic and industry partners on medical devices, telemedicine products, and homecare solutions. She is a member of several international research groups and serves as CTO and co-founder of WEARTECH Srl, an Iuav University spin-off specializing in wearable technologies for health, wellbeing, and sports.
Martina Frausin is Assistant Professor and Researcher in Product Design at Universita Iuav di Venezia, Italy. Dr. Frausin received her Ph.D. in Design Sciences from Universita Iuav di Venezia in 2022, focusing on telemedical product design and care system transformation. Her research explores medical design, telemedicine, homecare technologies, wearable devices, and human-centred healthcare innovation. Dr. Frausin is a member of MEDLAB, Futuro Continuo research center, USERLAB, and several international working groups. Her work investigates design's role in health and wellbeing, active ageing, women-centred design, and design for emergencies. Dr. Frausin is CEO and co-founder of Weartech srl, an academic spin-off focused on wearable technologies for health, wellbeing, and sport.
Angela Giambattista is Assistant Professor at the Department of Planning, Design, and Technology of Architecture at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Dr. Giambattista holds a Ph.D. in Design and Innovation from the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," a Master's in Product Design, and a Bachelor's in Industrial Design from Sapienza University of Rome. Her research focuses on Product and Service Design, Design-Driven Innovation, and User Experience Design in medical and healthcare contexts. Dr. Giambattista coordinates the Cumulus international working group "DHEA: Design for Health, Ageing, and Well-being" and leads the SID Bottom-up Working Group DHeS. She has served as scientific coordinator for major international conferences and actively contributes to teaching and supervising theses.
Alessia Buffagni is Assistant Professor in Product Design at Iuav University of Venice, Italy, where she leads the MEDLAB - Medical Design Laboratory. Dr. Buffagni holds a Bachelor's in Industrial Design, a Master's in Product Design, and a Ph.D. 'Doctor Europaeus' in Design Science. Her research focuses on health product design, including assistive wearables, smart clothing, and solutions for ageing and vulnerable users. Dr. Buffagni collaborates with academic and industry partners on medical devices, telemedicine products, and homecare solutions. She is a member of several international research groups and serves as CTO and co-founder of WEARTECH Srl, an Iuav University spin-off specializing in wearable technologies for health, wellbeing, and sports.
Martina Frausin is Assistant Professor and Researcher in Product Design at Universita Iuav di Venezia, Italy. Dr. Frausin received her Ph.D. in Design Sciences from Universita Iuav di Venezia in 2022, focusing on telemedical product design and care system transformation. Her research explores medical design, telemedicine, homecare technologies, wearable devices, and human-centred healthcare innovation. Dr. Frausin is a member of MEDLAB, Futuro Continuo research center, USERLAB, and several international working groups. Her work investigates design's role in health and wellbeing, active ageing, women-centred design, and design for emergencies. Dr. Frausin is CEO and co-founder of Weartech srl, an academic spin-off focused on wearable technologies for health, wellbeing, and sport.
Angela Giambattista is Assistant Professor at the Department of Planning, Design, and Technology of Architecture at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Dr. Giambattista holds a Ph.D. in Design and Innovation from the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," a Master's in Product Design, and a Bachelor's in Industrial Design from Sapienza University of Rome. Her research focuses on Product and Service Design, Design-Driven Innovation, and User Experience Design in medical and healthcare contexts. Dr. Giambattista coordinates the Cumulus international working group "DHEA: Design for Health, Ageing, and Well-being" and leads the SID Bottom-up Working Group DHeS. She has served as scientific coordinator for major international conferences and actively contributes to teaching and supervising theses.
Content
Part I - Theoretical Framework. 1. Inclusive Design in Smart Healthcare: A Review of Research Themes and Target User Group. 2. From Barriers to Smart Solutions: Mapping Accessibility and Inclusion in Outpatient Chemotherapy Services. 3. Care Design. An educational project. 4. Pace Layering the LongevityTech City: Design of Urban Futures. 5. Design for neo-vulnerable users: How can design contribute to reducing loneliness. 6. Advancing smart clothing for active ageing: key design considerations. Part II - Case studies. 7. The other side of the coin: a participatory experience to explore intersectionality and support epistemic knowledge to counter academic privilege and create more inclusive learning environments. 8. Academia and outreach combined to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities through technology. 9. Facilitating movement through design to reduce vulnerability in chronic conditions.10. Integrating Somatic Empathy, AI Analysis, and Co-Design for Blind and Low-Vision Use. 11. A Dialogue of Therapist, Client and Technology: Mediating Care and in Blended Therapy.