Toolkit Stigma-Free Design: Product Appraisal Model for Stigma (PAMS) + Product Intervention Model for Stigma (PIMS)

The Stigma-free design toolkit is a design tool that resulted from the PhD research of Kristof Vaes - Product Stigmaticity: Understanding, measuring and managing product-related stigma. The toolkit contains two design tools. The PAMS  (Products Appraisal Model for Stigma) will manifest the stigma-specific sensitivities, conflicts, and challenges that designers need to take into account as they design a stigma-sensitive product. The PIMS (Products Intervention Model for Stigma) aims to inspire designers to alleviate the effects of product-related stigma and increases user-product attachment, user empowerment and collective well-being.

Research questions.

1. How can designers understand the factors that contribute to product-related stigma? PAMS  (Products Appraisal Model for Stigma) is a research tool that ‘unveils’ stigma pitfalls and social conflicts between users of stigma-sensitive products and its surroundings. The PAMS is a cardboard tetrahedron model that holds 27 questions. Each set of 9 questions addresses a specific product-related stigma component (product perception, products in use, and reflecting on product use) and how these are appraised by product users, bystanders, and society.

2. How can designers alleviate the effects of product-related stigma? PIMS (Products Intervention Model for Stigma) is a set of 17 stigma-alleviating design interventions. The PIMS is a set of 17 cardboard cards that are aimed at designers. The interventions challenge the designer to not only impact the product, but also empower the user or reshape societal and cultural factors. 

Impact.

To facilitate dissemination the toolkit is printed on a cardboard poster (First edition = 500 prints).

International workshops on stigma-free design: TU-Twente, 02-2016 / TU-Delft, 05-2017 / Bauhaus Dessau, 06-2017. Conferences and symposia: Hope Day, TU-Delft, 2014 / TU-Delft, Inclusive Design Course, 2016 / DRS2016, Brighton (Design research Society).

Articles in magazines and newspapers on PhD dissertation and its design tools:

- Leidsch dagblad, 26-04-2014 / Cool ontwerp moet stigma tegengaan (door Wilfred Simons)

- De Standaard, 21-05-2014, p14-15 / Populair met een prothese, onderzoeker wil medische en veiligheidsproducten verlossen van stigma. (door Stijn Cools)

- Flanders Today, 14-05-2014, p9 / Designing out stigma, Flemish researcher takes on negative side of prosthetics and cycle helmets. (door Andy Furniere)

- Delta magazine (TU-Delft - Faculteit Industrieel ontwerpen), p20-22 / 'We willen dat de gebruiker zich goed voelt en het product zijn karakter versterkt’

- REVA magazine, september 2014, p16-17 / Gewoon mooi! Weg met dat stigma.

- Delft Integraal (overkoepelend maandelijks magazine van de TU-Delft), oktober 2014, p32-35 / Trots op je prothese (door Connie van Uffelen)

- Kwintessens (tijdschrift van Design Vlaanderen) 09-03-2016, p68-71 / De psychologie van producten (door Koen Van der schaeghe)