Implementing Design for All: the role of ANAs in addressing Human Diversity

Abstract

This paper explores ANAs (Aspirations, Necessities, Abilities), a design research tool with a constructivist ontology within a Design for All (DfA) approach. It highlights its importance in understanding and addressing Human Diversity (HD) in design, both in research and implementation. ANAs focuses solely on the HD factors of real experiencers that can impact and be impacted by the designed PSS (Product, Service, System) in a specific context. Methodologically, ANAs pertains to problem-setting and emergent-evolutionary-learning design's epistemological approaches; ANAs also supports functional analysis and problem-solving approaches in the design's implementation phases. To situate ANAs within the broader landscape of design research tools, this study conducts a comparative analysis with three established tools: Persona, Affinity Diagram, and the Behaviour Change Wheel. These tools were selected due to their shared focus on exploring user capabilities, needs, and aspirations. The comparative analysis and phased implementation of the ANAs framework highlight its distinctive strategic structure: a data-driven and context-specific tool combining first- and second-hand data that does not rely on fictionalised user profiles. Thus, ANAs supports designers in creating platforms that enable All Who Wish to participate satisfactorily, minimising discrimination. This is achieved by synergising Necessities and Aspirations to lead the definition of target experiencers, and Abilities subsequently participating in informing specific design solutions. ANAs enables designers to understand and then manage the complexity posed by the HD Factors of their target experiencers, minimising designer bias and promoting social integration. This paper explains how the ANAs tool equips designers with a highly inclusive perspective, empowering them to develop richer, contextually relevant design answers that promote sustainable development and social innovation.

Keywords: ANAs, Design for All, Inclusion, Sustainability, Design Research Tool, Human Diversity, Social Innovation

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006159