The Ripple Framework: supporting the development of a relational approach to co-design the social, cultural, and economic value of care through re-appropriation of common technologies

Work has been undertaken in HCI to explore ways of co-designing with different communities, and organisations. However, we lack empirical analysis of how co-design can be made more meaningful to promote the ‘radical participatory design’ (RPD) (Udoewa&Gress). To assist the Healthier Working Lives (HWL) programme, we curated the Ripple Framework to develop trust with co-designers. Data was used to collaboratively define bespoke co-design pathways with 31 participants from six Scottish care providers over ten months. Thematic, content and matrix analyses produced insights to inform vignettes illustrating how RPD responded to complex social care sector needs, with a particular focus on fulfilment and flourishing of the care workforce. Drawing on our empirical material and using the Design Research Value Model (Rodgers et al.), we illustrate how we have developed care's social, cultural, and economic value, through RPD and by (re)appropriating common technologies, this way contributing to strategies to address the care crisis.