Measuring Product-Related Stigma in Design

Abstract: Many medical and assistive devices are experienced as unpleasant and uncomfortable. On top of their discomfort, product users may also experience social<br/>unease. We label this process “product-related stigma” (PRS). This paper presents two measuring techniques that aim to objectively assess the<br/>‘degree’ of PRS that is ‘attached’...

Product Stigmaticity: Understanding, Measuring and Managing Product-Related Stigma

Stigma-free Product Design. Many of the products intended to relieve us from discomforting or unsafe situations and many medical and assistive devices are experienced as unpleasant and uncomfortable. On top of their discomfort, product users may also experience social unease from the people around them. Just like people may be rejected because...

Contending stigma in product design: Using insights from social psychology as a stepping stone for design strategies

Assistive, protective or medical products that are visibly worn or used in proximity to the human body can have an emotional impact on their users and bystanders. In his design effort it is important for a designer to be mindful of the potential stigma a product might elicit. The identity threat model of Major (2005) is used as a stepping-stone...

Masked aversion: Walking and staring behavior towards stigmatizing products

An encounter with a person using or wearing a potentially stigmatizing product is an impacting experience that is the result of the artifact itself, the individual experiencing the stigma, the observing bystanders and the cultural context in which the situation is set. Using or wearing a potentially stigmatizing product might stimulate...