Systemic and participatory design processes in care systems

The paper discusses the topic of participatory design processes with systemic approach as a tool to negotiate, shape and prototype new inclusive models of citizenship and care to benefit marginal groups in society. The topic will be addressed via three case studies from the field experience of our action research through Design and Anthropology toward social inclusion. Our research approach entails both methodological analysis and transformative actions that have tangible effects on social care systems: marginalized people, caregivers, services’ management organizations. The projects described move from the stakeholders’ desire of tangible transformations in order to improve the quality of their social services: development of new products, redesign of spaces and housing processes, the innovation of the service. In order to support and facilitate this “desire of change”, it seems to be preferable to operate according to a systemic design approach and to develop projects based on a wide participation and on a multi-stakeholders collaboration in the decision making processes.