Susanne Jacobson | Doctoral Student | M.A., B.B.A. | tel. +358(0)400 787 761 | fax. +358(0)9 756 30 433 | susanne.jacobson(at)taik.fi
The objective of my research ”Personalised Assistants. Replacing the Stigma Associated with Assistive Products” is to study how personalisation could be utilised as a design driver in inclusive design. My aim is to study how the physically disabled have either personalised their assistive products or employed mainstream products as assistive ones. I consider assistive products as solutions that promote independent living. Therefore, they can include both assistive devices and accessible spaces.
In personalised assistive products, my focus is in qualities that reduce the stigma associated with traditional assistive products. My interest is in qualities that express users’ identities, connote things beyond disability, and associate the products with other product categories. My aim is to examine which of the qualities could be ‘generalised’ and applied to inclusive design.
Through studying assistive products’ role in constructing their users’ identities, my research interconnects design semantics, user experience, and inclusive design. I approach the research problem through Erving Goffman’s conceptions of impression management and stigma management. I consider personalisation as a means of managing the stigma associated with assistive products.
I graduated from the University of Art and Design Helsinki (TaiK) in 2004 majoring industrial and strategic design and minoring design management in Helsinki School of Economics. Since 2004 I have worked as a researcher in Future Home Institute in the Aalto University School of Art and Design.