Methods for Supporting Older Users in Communicating Their Emotions at Different Phases of a Living Lab Project

Abstract

In this article, we focus on living lab methods that support theelicitation of emotions -a key success factor in whether a designsolution will be accepted and taken up over the long term. Wedemonstrate the use of emotional goal models to help understand what isrelevant for a target user group in the early phases of design. Wepromote animations and storyboards to envision the context of use and togain an understanding of how design ideas can integrate into people'slives. For the evaluation of ideas and to further understand user needs,we show how technology probes facilitate natural interactions with asuggested solution concept. All methods have in common that they enableolder adults without design or development experience to participate inthe design process and work towards a meaningful solution by helping tocommunicate feelings and goals that are often hard to define. Lastly, wepresent a process model that demonstrates our emotion-led design toolkitat various phases of a living lab process.