Series of workshops, part of MA Design research
Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague
2023-2024
In relation to my MA Design research, I conducted my design research through a series of participatory design workshops. In intimate settings, taking place with neurodivergent individuals across Amsterdam, Rotterdam and the Hague, participants created low-fidelity prototypes using dressmaking materials to communicate how clothing could better support their sensory needs. The prototyping methods included draping fabric directly onto the body, making fidget toys, and adjusting existing garments. These methods focused on creating everyday clothing that could be used and benefited from.
Following these creations, I developed high-fidelity prototypes, which participants tested in real-life contexts, providing insights into the garments’ effectiveness.
Through this collaboration, the workshops revealed direct sensory insights, experiences, and curiosities of the participants, while also informing design directions. This approach ensured that the final designs were driven by the lived experiences of the neurodivergent community, rather than relying on assumptions. Given the historical neglect of neurodivergent involvement in research, it was crucial to create opportunities for meaningful and creative contributions, allowing the project to be led by the community. This also fostered engagement, enabling participants to gain personal insights into their own sensory experiences.
Participants shared that the workshops helped them identify their sensory preferences, engage in meaningful self-reflection, and positively (re)frame their sensory experiences. Collaboration and mutual learning are central to my workshops, fostering designs that emerge directly from the community’s insights.
Methods of Making: A range of prototyping methods have been used, including draping straight onto the body using fabric, altering an existing garment and creating personalised fidget toys.
Brittany Thorpe 