This research project created a tool designed to empower "brussen", the siblings of children with special needs, aged 7 to 12 to improve their visibility and recognition among their peers through play. Often overlooked within their families due to the primary focus on their siblings' needs, brussen face unique challenges regardless of the type of special need. They can find recognition and support in each other, but the term "brussen" is not widely known, complicating their ability to connect with peers. This project adopts a participatory design and research-through-design approach, engaging brussen in co-design sessions to ensure their perspectives shape the final outcome.

The research highlights the importance of visibility among brussen, with empowerment and play emerging as key elements within the design process. The design activities themselves contribute to knowledge generation, which helps to better understand the complex context of brussen. The project developed a personalized "ByBrus backpack" with velcro buttons, allowing brussen to express their identities and control their visibility in a playful manner. This personalization provides a sense of ownership and autonomy, as the buttons symbolize the unique stories, emotions, and experiences of the brussen. Through this approach, brussen can show their unique experiences, ultimately enhancing their visibility. By addressing the need for social recognition and support, the ByBrus backpack aims to create a sense of community and mutual understanding among brussen, contributing to their overall well-being and resilience.


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Within this report, we explore the opportunities of the enhancement of well-being among hobby gardeners in the Netherlands using the principles of Positive Design realized through the methodology of Dilemma-Driven Design. Data was collected through qualitative in-depth interviews involving 12 participants who all engaged in either home, community or pot gardening. These interviews primarily focused on the exploration of the emotional landscape and pinpointing the underlying dilemmas experienced within the corresponding gardening context.
The research process involved thorough analysis of interview results which led to dilemmas which offered a base to the ideation process employed within this project. Through ideation and iteration, a creative solution could be generated that holds promise for fostering human flourishing. In lines with the principles of Positive Design, this condition is key for enhancing subjective well-being and offers an insight on the potential of design to contributing to this within the domain of gardening.

Prior to the field research, extensive desk research and a literature review was conducted, where the existing sources between well-being and gardening were explored. Additionally, the role of gardening tools within the aspect of how they contribute to well-being was explored, given the collaborative nature of this project with the company Talen Tools, renowned for its high quality gardening tool craftsmanship.

As a final result, this project offers a new perspective on how designers can harness Dilemma-Driven Design to actively contribute to Positive Design, embodied through the design of the “PocketHelp”, a device that aims to overcome the dilemma of desiring help from fellow gardeners without seeming helpless, which is a dilemma commonly faced by community gardeners within the gardening complex Delftse Hout. The project offers insights into various design strategies which can be utilized to the enhancement of subjective well-being, in this case particularly within the context of communal gardening. ... Read more