Sharing the underlying questions that designers, researchers and educators face in their design process for and together with people with dementia.

For designers, researchers and educators working with people with dementia there are moments of joy when a design is well-accepted, there is appreciation shown for what was designed by caregivers and family members or the method that was used goes well, etc. 

Despite these positive elements, there are a range of underlying questions that come before, during and after the design process. These questions vary from such practical challenges as recruiting persons with dementia and making connections with dementia groups or care facilities to finding funding before a project begins or failing to have a method work as expected. Designers may struggle to find a find a way of communicating with people with dementia when words fail or have a hard time coping with the stress of dealing with people who are in constant mental and physical decline. Finally, once a design is made, designers and researchers often encounter resistance to the first iterations of the things designed or have difficulty integrating the designs into the routines of daily life and care. 

In this second edition of the Dementia Lab event, we wish to support the sharing of these successes and failures by inviting contributions from designers and researchers who are designing for and together with persons with dementia. Besides the participant’s contributions, two keynote speakers will try to provoke, stir or respond to the submissions. For an overview of last year's event, please see our publications from 2016: one version in English and another version with German Introductions.

Working with the Dementia Lab
If you are interested in organising a workshop or collaborating on a project with Dementia Lab co-founders Niels Hendriks and Andrea Wilkinson, you can send them an email: Niels Hendriks and Andrea Wilkinson.

dortmund, germany

september 6 & 7 2017