Co-design with children with cancer: Insights from what they say, make, and do

Abstract

Being diagnosed with cancer is traumatic and life-changing for children. Due to the disease and treatment, children experience suffering, pain, interruption in school and playful activities, and separation from social and familiar environments. These negatively affect their quality of life (QOL). This article reports a co-design process conducted with children with cancer to shed light on their needs with regard to the play area furniture at the hospital to recommend design ideas that might improve children's QOL. The results have shown that a modular furniture system that can be customizable by children might contribute to their QOL - thanks to its adaptability to the needs of a wide range of age groups. In addition, there is a possible link between co-design sessions and children's well-being in terms of an increased sense of control, socialization and physical activities. For designers- who are the facilitators of co-design sessions with children- actively involving caregivers in co-design processes, co-designing the generative tools and the process with participants, and conducting observations and interviews to shape and complement the co-design sessions are advised. The findings of this study are expected to assist designers, co-design practitioners and healthcare members.