Research Publications

Abstract: Behavioural design is an important, emerging area of research and practice. However, major questions remain regarding how behaviour change mechanisms should be embodied in artefacts to create effective interventions. Hence, we ask: How do behaviour change mechanisms and their embodiments emerge and relate to each other during behavioural design processes? We answer this question via analysis of 11, in-depth case studies of expert practice. Based on our findings, we reveal a complex, multi-layered co-evolutionary process in behavioural design, capturing development within and between spaces linked to behaviour change mechanisms and their embodying artefacts. Further, we relate the structure of this co-evolutionary development via process synergy between mechanisms and embodiments spaces to understanding and cohesion of the final interventions. This has significant implications for behavioural design theory and process guidance, as well as highlighting the need for further research on the link between design processes and interventions in this context. 

Abstract: Behavioural design has emerged as an important domain of design research and practice. However, there is a need to better distinguish behavioural design and subsequently map its unique features and challenges. In answer to this need, this work examines the evolving role of behaviour in design and contrasts this with eleven in-depth behavioural design cases. This has resulted in our identification of behavioural design as a new paradigm of design, with a number of unique characteristics. Based on this, we propose a model of behavioural design. Furthermore, we identify three critical barriers to behavioural design in practice, and suggest ten mitigating enablers. Together these findings provide implications for further development of theory, practice, and education in behavioural design. 

Abstract: Behavioural design has emerged as a critical new area of research and practice. However, despite the development of extensive lists of possible problem features and suggested solution principles there is little guidance on how these should be connected. Therefore, in this work we systematically examine interactions between major problem features and solution principles, based on an analysis of 218 behavioural design interventions drawn from 139 cases across design domains and foci. This forms the basis for a number of contributions. First, we bring together behavioural and designerly perspectives on problem characterisation via two proposed problem features: change demand and behavioural constraint, related in a two-by-two framework. Second, we synthesised recommendations from across domains and foci to operationalise a list of 23 solution principles relevant to designers. Third, we link these insights in a proposed Behavioural Problem/Solution (BPS) matrix. Further, we identify a number of potential systemic challenges in the reporting and evidencing of behavioural design interventions. Together, these insights substantially extend both theory and practice surrounding problem-solution mapping in behavioural design, and form a foundation for further theory development and synthesis in this area. 

Abstract: Paternalism is an instance of someone making a decision on behalf of someone else. A professional designer can exhibit paternalism through conceptualizing, defining, and selecting current or preferable situations or while finalizing outcomes for stakeholders. Paternalism is thus, a critical ethical dimension related to the design profession. The design academy and community must theorize paternalism if we are to avoid or reduce it. Paternalism may be present at three critical junctures of design decision making. Our three-layer framework examines paternalism as it relates to design process decisions, decisions about participation in design, and normative framework decisions. The circular model represents the hierarchy of paternalistic decision making: any effort to overcome paternalism at the (inner) design level or (middle) participatory level will be ineffective if it is present in the (outer) normative layer. We discuss the extent of possible exhibitions of paternalism and the challenges to avoiding it in decisions at each layer, and contrast these briefly with overtly paternalistic design approaches, such as design for behavior change. We find that design may be inherently paternalistic, at times may need to be that way (in certain contexts especially, where expertise is required for decisions to be made accurately), and that it is up to the individual designer whether they exhibit paternalism in their design decisions or not. 

Abstract: Base of the (economic) Pyramid (BoP) represents a population living under severe resource constraint s. Design for BoP has crucial responsibility of achieving the well-being through fulfillment of specific needs. At BoP, design has to shoulder this additional responsibility due to absent or severely constrained mechanisms to translate the functional product into well-being. This paper proposes a design scope for the BoP using normative approach from developmental economics, and then compares it with the pervasive product centric scope. Author defines product centricity as a design scope that considers resultant product as sufficient outcome of design and evaluates the extent of product centricity in prevalent design approaches. 

Abstract: Industries often prioritize markets with high sales volumes and profit margins, showing little interest in developing technologies for low-income communities where demand and purchasing power are both low. More often, designers and researchers from various academic institutions voluntarily invest part of their professional engagements in developing technologies to enhance the livelihoods of low-income communities. However, academic professionals face several challenges, primarily due to their limited bandwidth in terms of their time and expertise. In this research, a methodology called action research was employed to identify the challenges faced by the above professionals in developing technologies for low-income communities and to propose strategies to address them. Seven identified challenges were classified under the four categories based on design projects spanning over nine years (2014–2022). As a result, a design framework comprising 12 strategies, grouped into four broad categories, is proposed. All 12 strategies were validated through their implementations in one of the projects of the Rural Technology Action Group. 

Abstract: People living under $2 income per day, referred as Base of the Pyramid (BoP), face undesired situations like lack of nutrition, health, education etc. Design as a process of changing current undesired situation to a desired situation has failed. A crucial reason behind these failures is lack of normative basis to identify and understand the absent or unsatisfied stakeholder. Currently stakeholder analysis in the design is heuristic. This paper uses a normative framework of Capability Approach (CA) for the stakeholder analysis. A brief discussion on stakeholder theory and analysis is used to identify gaps in the literature. The constructs of the CA are discussed for its suitability to the purpose. Along with methodological details, data generated from the stakeholder interviews, focus groups in a case study of dissemination of improved cook-stoves is used to interlink the theory with the practice. The scope of this work is in identifying and investigating the motives of the stakeholders in the involvement in the product. Though a lot of insights to discern and manage crucial stakeholders is inbuilt in the methodology, this work does not claim explicit coverage of these aspects.

Abstract: The base (BOP) and the top (TOP) of the world income pyramid represent the poor people and the people from developed countries, respectively. The design of products for the BOP is an important ingredient of the poverty reduction approach that combines business development with poverty alleviation. However, the current understanding of the design for the BOP is limited. This study, using a protocol analysis, compared design processes for the BOP and TOP markets. The results indicate the difference between the design processes for these markets in terms of the design strategy employed by the designers (i.e. problem driven, solution driven strategy), their requirements handling behaviour, and their information behaviour. 

Abstract: A major cause of diagnostic errors is the underlying complexity caused by patient presentations and the context in which diagnosis is being undertaken. This is especially true for settings like emergency medicine and disease spectrums like infectious diseases. To design artefacts that counter such errors, it is essential to map the factors contributing to diagnostic complexity. However, existing complexity assessment methods in healthcare are limited in scope. Addressing this gap, our work operationalises a complexity estimation tool to identify factors contributing to the diagnostic complexity of 10 infectious disease cases in an emergency medicine setting. Our objective findings are further validated by a strong correlation with the difficulty perceived by attending doctors. The work provides a basis for the design of targeted interventions aiming to mitigate complexity in diagnosis. 

Abstract: Climate change mitigation and adaptation calls for complicated policy decisions impacting people. Current policy decision analysis in the policy development phase prioritizes economic, environmental, and technological concerns but frequently overlooks the critical role of human behavior in policy success. Individual choices significantly influence policy outcomes, often impacting its effectiveness due to behavioral aspects. This study uses a structured review of recent literature from 2020–2024 to understand the extent of behavioral considerations during the policy development and analysis stage and broadly during the overall policy design phase. PRISMA guidelines are used to identify and select the relevant literature. The results identify the state of behavioral inclusion mainly in the policy development phase, and challenges in current approaches toward this integration. Recommendations to integrate behavioral design in process integration and team formulation are proposed from the behavioral design perspective. This study underscores the critical role of human behavior in climate change adaptation and recommends incorporating behavioral insights into the climate policy-making process to enhance effectiveness and promote adaptive behaviors. In conclusion, this study seeks to bridge the gap between behavior design and behavioral science, thus helping to create more effective and sustainable climate change policies. 

Abstract: Medical diagnosis requires the undertaking of decision-making tasks of varying complexity. A significant source of such complexity is the objective factors that represent the inherent task characteristics and the clinical context in which the task is undertaken. While existing task complexity research has mentioned these inherent factors, it has not explicitly stated the identifying criteria required to identify these factors from collected qualitative data. There is also a critical gap persisting in terms of a well-defined protocol to measure objective task complexity in a clinical context. This study proposes a protocol to estimate the objective complexity of diagnostic tasks in an emergency medicine setting. To do this, we expanded a prior task complexity conceptualisation framework that states 27 inherent task and context-dependent factors and defined the identifying criteria for each of those factors. The protocol was developed through a site study at an emergency medicine department in India. This protocol can be used by behavioural designers, human factors researchers and medical experts to evaluate the complexity of diagnostic tasks in emergency medicine and potentially other healthcare settings. 

Abstract: The health and well-being sector has been of significant interest to the behavioural design domain since bringing in behavioural changes can help improve the overall well-being of a community. However, the domain's intervention in this sector has been limited to persuasive techniques for the adoption of healthier lifestyles. There is a need to consider the diagnostic actions and decisions undertaken by doctors as it represents an important part of health and well-being improvement of people. Medical errors committed by healthcare professionals are an important aspect of the healthcare domain. Since these errors result due to undesired or non-normative behaviours, behavioural design can be instrumental in their eradication. But the research on integrating behavioural design and medical error literature is still nascent.

In this paper, we address this gap by identifying the categories of errors based on the performance levels within which they occur. Next, we contextualise these errors categories to medical literature focusing on the diagnostic stage. We further link it to the behavioural change model of COM-B to determine preliminary intervention functions that can be utilised by behavioural designers to deploy interventions.

Abstract: Poverty is the defining attribute of resource-constrained populations. ‘Design for development’ approach aims at reducing the negative effects of poverty. Design for development has reviews about nature of design and best practices using structured literature review approach; however, insights from the designers are largely missing. This is crucial because specific insights about the decisions related to products or interventions are generally reported, yet holistic understanding about the design approach and mindset is largely missing. This work uses online survey of 26 experience designers from 11 countries to understand their approach toward design for development. The main objective of the survey was to understand, firstly their preferred scope of design, secondly the prevalent constraints faced by designers, thirdly the prevalent product success measures used and finally the prevalent design supports used and their perceived suitability for design for development. Survey reveals that the criterion to product success is product centric. The prevalent design scope is also critically product centric. Importantly, product centricity prevails while designers use human-centered design, participatory design and co-design approaches. Respondent designers use maximum number of design supports for the needs analysis phase, yet they request for additional design support for needs analysis. This highlights that design lacks effective and efficient supports for needs analysis. 

Abstract: Behavioural design is an approach that can be used not only to understand the way people think and make decisions about their actions but also to modulate them. Current behavioural design frameworks deal with different stages of behavioural design effectively; however, designers struggle to find an integrated framework to address a socio-behavioural problem. This research uses a case study to demonstrate the application of an integrated framework for addressing the social problem related to parking behaviour in a residential area. The shortage of parking space has led to irrational parking behaviour amongst vehicle owners, which influences the social harmony of the society since it is a crucial factor in instigating aggressive behaviour and anxiety amongst vehicle owners. To solve this behavioural problem, the integrated framework uses methods from domains like nudge from behavioural economics, theory of goals and COM-B from psychology, and behavioural analysis from applied behavioural science. Behaviour definitions were employed to determine the sub-domains of current and target behaviour. Interviews with residents were conducted using the theoretical domains framework (TDF) model to assess their perspective of the problem, problem behaviour, and willingness to attain the target behaviour. The identified behaviours were further classified into meta-categories to find the category most responsible for the situation. Additionally, Fogg behaviour grid and COM-B (capability, opportunity, and motivation) model were applied to identify intervention options, which were then weighted using APEASE criteria to narrow down the suitable interventions. The behaviour change technique was applied to the selected intervention to determine the guidelines and design the artefact for achieving the target behaviour. This paper demonstrates the application of the integrated framework to improve parking behaviour in residential buildings in vertically growing cities. 

Abstract: Behavioural design is a significant area of research due to its potential to solve problems by facilitating desirable human behaviour in areas such as healthcare and sustainability. Unlike conventional design domains, behavioural design distinguishes itself by prioritising behaviours as the primary objects of design instead of artefacts. However, the operationalisation of behavioural design suffers from its inability to cohesively integrate behavioural science-led and design-led methods to characterise problematic and target behaviours in a systemic context. The domain also lacks a structured framework to bridge the gap between target behaviours and design interventions. Thus, there is a perceived need for an integrative behavioural design framework that helps designers address complex human behaviours in a social setup like university canteens. With the resumption of in-person classes, there are high chances for university canteens to be overcrowded, potentially leading to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We address this challenge by proposing an integrated framework for facilitating behaviours like social distancing, wearing of masks, and effective lane movement. Further, the application of the framework is demonstrated in a university canteen setup using defined behavioural parameters. 

Abstract: Behavioural design has emerged as an important domain of design practice and research due to its ability to deliver the desired outcomes beyond technical designs. Research on behavioural design is not successful in discerning it from other design domains, which is important for theory building. This paper discerns the unique characters of behavioural design by tracing the emergence of behaviour in design. Twelve interviews from six behaviour design cases belonging to four firms has been used to further discern the unique characteristics resulting into the conceptual model of behavioural design. 

Abstract: Behavioural design is a crucial research area due to its potential in leveraging the positive outcomes of traditional design. Current need for theory building requires discerning the unique characteristics and challenges of behavioural design. To contribute towards this goal, the paper structures the conceptual and operational uniqueness of the behavioural design using the process and cognitive perspective. Process model uses the basic design cycle to discern the tasks and stages of behavioural design. Cognitive perspective uses dual process theory and cognitive strategies used by designers. Integrated model of process and cognitive perspective is the crucial contribution of this paper. A case study involving interview of lead designers from five behavioural design consultancies has been used to present and elaborate the usefulness of the integrated model of behavioural design. Integrated perspective links the process characters like incomplete analysis, simulation and evaluation stages, over reliance on the prescriptive methods, and unequal emphasis to multiple disciplines, with incomplete analytical process, and solution and knowledge driven strategy along cognitive perspective. 

Abstract: This paper intends to deliberate on the scope of future Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) projects and prescribes that the project scope for a technological solution to a demand-driven problem must include the design of technologies for its whole lifecycle and especially for dissemination. Principally at RuTAG, the satisfaction of the desired outcome has to be important than the design of the technology itself. Prevalent design, rather narrowly, refers planning and realization of the technology as Design. This paper argues that, for the final aim of scaling up the rural technologies to deliver the desired social good, designers must involve not only at improving the target technology, but also in design and developing the technologies that can support its successful lifecycle. This paper uses the case study of dissemination and successful adaptation of biomass cook stove. Astra Ole is an energy-efficient cook stove designed at Indian Institute of Science, India. Despite its successful dissemination for over three decades through government funding, the cook stove presented different challenges in dissemination. The dissemination of cook stove in frugal/open market settings demanded the design of manufacturing technology without compromising on the design of the original cook stove design. Design of the manufacturing technology proved to be the crucial contributor towards sustenance of the dissemination of the original technology. 

Abstract: People living under $2 income per day, referred as Base of the Pyramid (BoP), face undesired situations like lack of nutrition, health, education etc. Design as a process of changing current undesired situation to a desired situation has failed. A crucial reason behind these failures is lack of normative basis to identify and understand the absent or unsatisfied stakeholder. Currently stakeholder analysis in the design is heuristic. This paper uses a normative framework of Capability Approach (CA) for the stakeholder analysis. A brief discussion on stakeholder theory and analysis is used to identify gaps in the literature. The constructs of the CA are discussed for its suitability to the purpose. Along with methodological details, data generated from the stakeholder interviews, focus groups in a case study of dissemination of improved cook-stoves is used to interlink the theory with the practice. The scope of this work is in identifying and investigating the motives of the stakeholders in the involvement in the product. Though a lot of insights to discern and manage crucial stakeholders is inbuilt in the methodology, this work does not claim explicit coverage of these aspects. 

Abstract: What should be the scope of design? What responsibilities should design own? To answer these questions, an normative approach that can guide the outcomes of design is essential. This study attempts to answer these questions by constructing a capability approach (CA)-based definition of design. Implications of the theoretical constructs of CA on design are explained through a practical case study of Astra ole: a firewoodbased cook stove. CA based product evaluation has empowered the authors to reanalyse the field experience of over three decades with a new perspective. The second case study is the design of a mould for rapid dissemination of Astra ole. According to a CA-based design, the mould should be included in the scope of the original design of the stove, as it is linked with the important product life cycle phase of manufacturing. The second case study highlights the importance of extending the scope of design to the product’s entire life cycle. 

Abstract: Extending the dictionary meaning of ‘capability’ as individual skills or abilities, the current paper adopts a Capability Approach (CA) based definition. Accordingly capabilities are effective (operational) options available to an individual to be and do as aspired, in leading a life of value upon reflection. This concept primarily evolved in development economics, and has remained confined to the Bottom/Base of the Pyramid, wherein the capabilities of the poor are envisaged to be leveraged upon in alleviating poverty. Design for the BoP aims at designing appropriate products to serve as means to realize or augment the capabilities of the poor. However, the designer’s role as an individual with capabilities is taken for granted. Here, the designers capabilities to design are the effective options/resources available for the designer to design effectively. The current paper extends the concept of CA to the designer, and evaluates the related capabilities for its impact on designing products aimed at the BOP to alleviate poverty. 

Abstract: The base (BOP) and the top (TOP) of the world income pyramid represent the poor people and the people from developed countries, respectively. About two-fifths of the world population can be categorized as poor. Poverty is a trap because children born to poor parents are likely to grow up to be poor adults. In recent years, a poverty reduction approach that combines business development with poverty alleviation has received attention. The design of products for the BOP is an important ingredient of this poverty reduction approach. While companies are beginning to address the product needs of the BOP, there is limited practical and theoretical knowledge to support them. The current understanding of the design for the BOP is limited. This study aims at exploring the differences between the design strategies used by the industrial design students in designing products for the BOP and TOP markets. The results indicate the differences between their design strategies (i.e. problem driven strategy, solution driven strategy) in designing products for the BOP and TOP markets. We have discussed the implications of the findings for design practice and education. In particular, we have discussed how university-based design projects for the BOP can help in developing students’ different design skills. 

Abstract: The base (BOP) and the top (TOP) of the world income pyramid represent the poor people and the people from developed countries, respectively. About two-fifths of the world population can be categorized as poor. Poverty is a trap because children born to poor parents are likely to grow up to be poor adults. In recent years, a poverty reduction approach that combines business development with poverty alleviation has received attention. The design of products for the BOP is an important ingredient of this poverty reduction approach. While companies are beginning to address the product needs of the BOP, there is limited practical and theoretical knowledge to support them. The current understanding of the design for the BOP is limited. This study, using a protocol analysis, compared the design processes for the BOP and TOP markets. The results indicate the differences between the design processes for these markets in terms of the design strategy employed by the designers (i.e. problem driven, solution driven strategy), their requirements handling behaviour, and their information behaviour. We have discussed the implications of the findings for design practice and education. 

Abstract: New products have to be introduced in to the market at regular intervals of time, in order to maintain regularity in sales and profits. In this paper, we propose a measure for assessing novelty of new products. The basic ideas on which the measure is based are 1) novelty of a product could not be assessed without assessing its similarity or difference with existing products as reference. 2) There are several levels of novelty, based on how different a product is in its principle, technology and implementation from the existing products. Validity of the measure has been tested using an in-house experiment in which designers were asked to evaluate novelty of a set of products with respect to a given, existing product as reference. 

Abstract: Medical diagnosis requires the undertaking of decision-making tasks of varying complexity. A significant source of such complexity is the objective factors that represent the inherent task characteristics and the clinical context in which the task is undertaken. While existing task complexity research has mentioned these inherent factors, it has not explicitly stated the identifying criteria required to identify these factors from collected qualitative data. There is also a critical gap persisting in terms of a well-defined protocol to measure objective task complexity in a clinical context. This study proposes a protocol to estimate the objective complexity of diagnostic tasks in an emergency medicine setting. To do this, we expanded a prior task complexity conceptualisation framework that states 27 inherent task and context-dependent factors and defined the identifying criteria for each of those factors. The protocol was developed through a site study at an emergency medicine department in India. This protocol can be used by behavioural designers, human factors researchers and medical experts to evaluate the complexity of diagnostic tasks in emergency medicine and potentially other healthcare settings.