ParticipatoryeTextiles designwithmentalhealthcare

communitiesSarahKettleyandRichardKettley

AnInternetofSoftThings

• Thismultidisciplinaryprojectaims:

• todevelopaperson-centredmethodologyforparticipatorydesigninthefieldsofeTextiles,InteractionDesignandServiceDesignfortheInternetofThings

• toincludementalhealthserviceusersandprovidersinthedevelopingpublicimaginaryofthesetechnologies.

http://aninternetofsoftthings.com/project/

Whatwearedoing

• WehaverunaseriesofworkshopsatMind,athirdsector(charity)mental

healthcareproviderintheUK,whereparticipantsmadehandheldtextile

formswithsoftcircuitsandlightoutput

• Oneoutcomeofthisisasetofrecommendationsforotherdesign

researcherswhowishtodeveloptheirpracticeinthefieldsofmental

healthandwellbeing

Overview

• Inthistalkwewill:

• describetheplanning oftheworkshopcontent

• discussissues aroundthePerson-Centred Approachandskills-basedlearning

• outlineourrecommendations foraparticipatorydesignresearchprotocolfore-textilesworkinmentalhealthcareenvironments

Planningofworkshopcontent

• MentalHealthAwarenesstrainingforwholeteam(deliveredbyMind)

• Planningincluded:

• skillsteachingandpractice

• generationofideas

• person-centred,safeenvironment

• varietyofwaystoself-reportholisticexperience

• rolesofresearchers/facilitators/co-designers

• informedconsent

• reflecting,beingflexible

IssuesaroundthePerson-CentredApproachandskills-basedlearning

• Non-judgemental• whenthereisrightandwrongwaytodosomething:itwilleitherworkornot• ifresearcher/facilitatordoesn’tliketheobjecttheparticipant/co-researcherproduces

• Non-directive• material,colour,design,function• separateprocessfromcontent;principledvs instrumental

• Rolesofresearchers/co-researchers(whoownstheprocess?)• autonomy• empathicattitudeofresearcher/facilitator• Achievement

• Practice-ledcriticalreflection• roleofresearcherasfacilitator/co-designer• reflectionasdata• reflectiontoinformongoingdesignofresearch• workingwithnon-verbalparticipants

Recommendationsforaparticipatorydesignresearchprotocolfore-textilesworkinmentalhealthcareenvironments

• Time

• Framingexperienceandexpectations

• Relationships

• Powerdynamics

• Data

• Co-productionofnarratives

• Debriefingandsupport

• Widerdisciplinaryandresearchexpectations

Recommendation:Time• Pace:

• pacewithinworkshop(3hoursincludinglunch)andwithinseries(6sessions)• goatthepaceoftheparticipants(difficulttoplan)• valueachievementindifferentpartsoftheprocess• ideationandreflection- eg ‘whatislight?’– aswellasskills• differenttypesofthinkinginvolved(fromSTEMtoSTEAM)soveryengaging• overcomingphysicalaswellasmentalandemotionalbarriers

• Resources:• a lotofmaterialsprovidedbecauseofimportanceofchoiceandplayfulness/risk• alotoforganisationbeforeandafter(textilesandelectronicsandtracking/reflections)• smallthingscanmakeabigdifference(eg needlethreaders andembroideryscissors)

• Timing:• managingresourcessotheyarenotoverwhelming(tables,areasofroom)• riskofstressanddisengagement

Recommendation:Framingexperienceandexpectations

• Check-in;check-out

• Groupagreement

• Ongoinginformedconsentbasedonexperience:

• reflectingonprocess(ratherthanproduct)

• buildingontrustinresearch(ers)

• transparency:checkingwhat’sOKornotOKwitheachindividual

• Contrasttobehaviouralpsychologywhichmightseektoinfluenceorpersuade:inPCApeopleareinherently

trustworthyandresourceful

Recommendation:Roles&Relationships

• Researchershavemultipleroles:• asethicalresearcher• asexperientialfacilitatorand/orco-designer• asparticipant

• Researchershaverelationshipswith:• eachother(theteam)• theorganisation/serviceanditsrepresentatives• theparticipants,especiallytheirco-designpartner

• Participantsmayhavevaryinglevelsofinvolvementinthedesignprocessdependingon:• theirself-confidence/self-esteem• capacityforverbalandnonverbalcommunication• Dexterityand/orconcentrationlevels• experience/awarenessofdesignissuesetc

• Importanceoftrustworthiness,empathicunderstandingandwarm,valuingattitudes

Recommendation:Powerdynamics

• Awarenessofculture(&funding)ofsector(inUK):• Government(NHS)– 1st sector(medicalmodel)• Privatebusiness– 2nd sector(businessmodel)• Charity/CommunityInterestCompany/SocialEnterprise– 3rd sector(doinggood)

• Presenting yourselvesandyourproject:• Expertornon-expert:levelofdetailonyourinstitution,funding,backers(needtoknow?)

• Language:academic/business/jargonmayprohibitinclusivityandengagementin3rdsectorenvironment

• Beginningsandendings:approachable,interestedintheperson,teaandcake!

Recommendation:Data

• Anythingthatcapturesexperience (includingreflections)• photographs• journals,blogs,notesandreflections• audiorecordingsofsessions,debriefings• meetings,informalchats

• Disciplinesmightdisagreeonattitudesto:• process/assessment/outcome• generative/evaluativeresearch

• Isyourresearchperceivedas:• a service?(eg MentalHealthAwarenessWeek)• ornotaservice?(NationalInstituteofHealthResearch)

• Makingdataavailabletofutureresearchers(newResearchCouncildirectiveinUK)

Recommendation:Co-productionofnarratives

• Co-designrelationship:• importanceofconsistencyandsensitivityofresearcherinthisrelationshipforsafetyofparticipant

• elicitingreflectionandenablingfeedbackwhereparticipantfindsthisdifficult

• InterpersonalProcessRecall(IPR):• reviewingvideoplaybacktopauseandrecallwhatwasn’tsaidatthetime,toexplorethoughtsandfeelings

• Film-making:• involvingindividualsinfilm-makingprocessandshowingtheirexperienceintheirownwordsattheirownpace

Recommendation:Debriefingandsupport

• Self-carefortheresearchers

• Informaldebriefingormoreformalisedsupervision

• Encourageself-discoveryofnon-cognitiveresponsesandreflections

• Ownyourownstuff

• Importanceofrightenvironment:trustworthiness,empathicunderstandingandwarm,valuingattitudes

Recommendation:Widerdisciplinaryandresearchexpectations

• Whateverthediscipline,bringitbacktomentalhealth• Impact• contribution

• Prioritisesafetyofparticipants• workwithexistingstaff/supportandtrainwholeteaminmentalhealthawareness• worktoethicalcode/frameworkeg BACP(includepsychotherapistonteam?)• transparencyandtrust• activelisteningandvaluing

• Processitself(ofmaking/doing)isunderstoodandassumedtobetherapeutic• itisvaluedregardlessofprovingbenefitofaproduct

• Evaluatetheworkshopdesignnottheproduct

AnInternetofSoftThingsTeam

• SarahKettley,PI(DesignResearch)

• AmandaBriggs-Goode,Co-I(Textiles)

• DavidBrown,Co-I(ComputerScience)

• MatthewBates(ComputerScience)

• StevenBattersby(ComputerScience)

• MarthaGlazzard(Textiles)

• TincutaHeinzel(Textiles)

• IsabelJones(Film-maker)

• RichardKettley(Psychotherapy)

• RachelLucas(Psychotherapy)

• AnnaSadkowska (ServiceDesign)

• SarahWalker(InterdisciplinaryPhDstudent)Contact:richard.kettley@ntu.ac.uk

Website:http://aninternetofsoftthings.com/project/

Bassetlawworkshopreflectionsa filmbySalamanda TandemforIoSofT

Director/researcher:IsabelJonesFilm/photography:GeoffreyFielding

Withthanksto:TheBassetlawMindTuesdayArtGroup,staffChris,ElaineandMeg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YixEuzl0Wfc