IDeALL: Exploring the way to integrate design for all within living labs

Abstract

On the one hand, new paradigms, such as Open Innovation (Chesbrough, 2003) and Web 2.0 (O'Reilly, 2004) as well as Living Labs operating as a User Centred Open Innovation Ecosystem (Pallot, 2009), promote a more proactive role of users in the R&D process. However, a number of existing methods for involving users are abundantly described in the literature as reported by Pallot and colleagues (2010) while proposing a domain landscape of research and design methods supporting user involvement in R&D. On the other hand, the Design Creative City Living Lab has deployed the LUPI® methodology (Vérilhac, 2011) for involving all stakeholders, including users, at the earlier stage in opening a specific design lab. The LUPI® main strength consists in the proactiveness on the value creation chain from foresight up to the market (Jégou, 2009). Finally, there is the Design for All (DfA) approach and HUMBLES design method (Aragall, 2012) where products and services are adapted to the needs and wishes of all people, regardless of their differences. This paper briefly explores these different methods and tentatively tries to provide criteria for selecting design methods according to project specific aspects in integrating the DfA approach to meet the needs of all users whatever their differences.