Understanding and advancing our world/s through inclusive and human-centred design research and innovation
The Inclusionaries is an advanced design research lab. We are a team of Inclusive and Human-Centred Design researchers, designers, lived experience experts and makers, directed by Dr Farnaz Nickpour, based at the School of Engineering at The University of Liverpool.
We investigate critical and contemporary dimensions of inclusive design and human-centred innovation for people, communities, and society. Our work supports organisations, practitioners and researchers in integrating advanced inclusive and human-centred design into their work.
We Are The Inclusionaries
We are a design research lab specialising in inclusive and human-centred research and innovation. We focus on developing knowledge & know-how; advancing real-world practice; and knowledge dissemination & training.
Our work centres sensitive healthcare and low-resource settings, areas of unmet need and populations particularly disserved by innovation. Our aim is to advance health, mobility and equity for marginalised and disadvantaged groups across adult and paediatric populations.
Our lab has advanced inclusive and human-centred design theory and practice across four strategic design research themes including Inclusive Mobility, Psychosocial Inclusion, Design for End of life and Healthcare Innovation.
We define and measure our IMPACT through;
Knowledge Building & Dissemination
– Establishing new areas of design research; Psychosocial inclusion, Design meets Death and Inclusive Paediatric Mobility (IPM) Design.
– Advancing design knowledge; Frameworks, guidelines and evidence maps for inclusive mobility, healthcare design, and design-led participation.
– Disseminating design research; 50+ peer-reviewed academic publications & invited/organised research engagements across multiple design/non-design platforms.
Knowledge Exchange & Collaboration
– Leading advanced inclusive & human-centred user research partnerships; product/service/system design research with end-users & stakeholders, co-creation, design discovery processes.
– Developing innovative health and mobility solutions; SMART SUIT upper body exoskeleton; SafariShop mobile shop for inclusive livelihood; DBO commode for hospital wards.
– Initiating award-winning design innovation in health & mobility settings; Designer-in-Residence model for design research & collaboration in palliative care.
Engagement, Training & Education
– Training & engagement; academic & industry training and end-user & public engagement services in curated workshop/short course/track/seminar formats.
– Pioneering interdisciplinary design education; Teaching design to medical workforce of future, establishing a ‘Design in Healthcare’ course in School of Medicine MBChB program.
We Research
We conduct advanced inclusive and human-centred design research. Design research is a critical and analytical, as well as a generative and creative force. We are firm believers in abductive modes of thinking and ‘Research through Design’.
The Inclusionaries Lab defines advanced design research as: incorporating both reflection and transition; engaging with higher-level narratives; acknowledging both immediate and extended contexts; and acting as a transdisciplinary agent.
We Design
We are experts in applying inclusive and human-centred design principles, processes, and practices across a variety of design and innovation briefs. We challenge the view that design is limited to product, service, or system interventions. Our work acknowledges all four types of design contributions including Theoretical, Methodological, Empirical, and Interventional.
Within every design project, we consider five distinctive dimensions; we refer to these as the ‘Five Designerly Ways’.
We Engage
As inclusive and human-centred design experts, people are central to our work. They could be end-users, clients, or stakeholders; students or scholars; the local community or members of the public.
We use Design’s critical and creative engagement mindsets and practices in order to deliver true engagement. Our design engagement work focuses on two aspects of ‘critical understanding’ and ‘creative communication’.
Featured Work
TEXT-BASED NAVIGATION FOR SCREEN READERS:
Home:
– Research
– Design
– Engagement
Work:
– Inclusive Mobility
– Psychosocial Inclusion
– Design for End-of-life
– Healthcare Innovation
Publications:
– Inclusive Mobility
– Psychosocial Inclusion
– Design for End-of-life
– Inclusive Design
– Healthcare Innovation
– Design Information
Team:
– Student Members
News and Events
Collaborations
Contact
The Inclusionaries Lab 