Designing for the Self: Enabling People to Design Behavioral Interventions

Abstract

I investigate how individuals can employ human centered design techniques to adopt positive behaviors in their everyday life. I have designed and built a tool that supports individuals in planning physical activity using design processes such as understanding other people's behavioral needs, ideating behavioral interventions and prototyping behavioral solutions using evidence-based techniques. In my dissertation I will demonstrate how tools can support iterative behavioral design by evaluating behavioral solutions, drawing insights from testing, and making iterations to a behavioral solution. This work will result in new tools and design methods that enable people to adapt evidence-based techniques in a way that fits with their everyday needs.