Designing Smart Solutions for Vulnerable Users Products, Services, Processes and Methodologies

Part I - Theoretical Framework

1. Inclusive Design in Smart Healthcare: A Review of Research Themes and Target User Group
Silvia Imbesi; Alessia Buffagni; Martina Frausin; Angela Giambattista

2. From Barriers to Smart Solutions: Mapping Accessibility and Inclusion in Outpatient Chemotherapy Services

Cláudia de Souza Libânio, Emanuele Konig-Klever, Alana Yasmim Lampert, Charise Alexandra Fonseca de Mesquita, Leandro Miletto Tonetto

3. Care Design. An educational project 

Carlo Branzaglia

4. Pace Layering the LongevityTech City: Design of Urban Futures

Sheng-Hung, Lee

5. Design for neo-vulnerable users: How can design contribute to reducing loneliness

Jinxia Liu; Angela Giambattista

6. Advancing smart clothing for active ageing: key design considerations      

Alessia Buffagni, Martina Frausin

Part II - Case studies           

7. The other side of the coin: a participatory experience to explore intersectionality and support epistemic knowledge to counter academic privilege and create more inclusive learning environments

Francesca Toso

8. Academia and outreach combined to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities through technology

Diego Beltramone, Marcela Fabiana Rivarola; Martín Robins; Diego Brazzale

9. Facilitating movement through design to reduce vulnerability in chronic conditions          

Denise Montt-Blanchard

10. Integrating Somatic Empathy, AI Analysis, and Co-Design for Blind and Low-Vision Use           

Mariia Zolotova, Vicente Esteban, Kimvi Nguyen, Tatiana Aleksandrova

11. A Dialogue of Therapist, Client and Technology: Mediating Care and in Blended Therapy

Benedetta Lusi, Hilda Hoekstra; Matthijs Noordzij; Geke Ludden

Biography

Silvia Imbesi is a freelance architect and designer based in Italy. She holds a Master's in Architecture, a Bachelor's in Industrial Design, and a Ph.D. in Inclusive Design from the University of Ferrara, Italy. Since 2012, she has also served as a Temporary Professor and Research Fellow at the University of Ferrara, Italy, focusing on human-centered methodologies, inclusive design of IoT-based devices, Smart mHealth systems, design for the elderly, and design for health and wellbeing. Dr. Imbesi is an invited speaker at international conferences and has authored over 40 scientific publications on innovative care solutions for fragile users and special populations.

Alessia Buffagni is Assistant Professor in Product Design at Iuav University of Venice, Italy, where she leads the MEDLAB – Medical Design Laboratory. Dr. Buffagni holds a Bachelor's in Industrial Design, a Master's in Product Design, and a Ph.D. 'Doctor Europaeus' in Design Science. Her research focuses on health product design, including assistive wearables, smart clothing, and solutions for ageing and vulnerable users. Dr. Buffagni collaborates with academic and industry partners on medical devices, telemedicine products, and homecare solutions. She is a member of several international research groups and serves as CTO and co-founder of WEARTECH Srl, an Iuav University spin-off specializing in wearable technologies for health, wellbeing, and sports.

Martina Frausin is Assistant Professor and Researcher in Product Design at Università Iuav di Venezia, Italy. Dr. Frausin received her Ph.D. in Design Sciences from Università Iuav di Venezia in 2022, focusing on telemedical product design and care system transformation. Her research explores medical design, telemedicine, homecare technologies, wearable devices, and human-centred healthcare innovation. Dr. Frausin is a member of MEDLAB, Futuro Continuo research center, USERLAB, and several international working groups. Her work investigates design's role in health and wellbeing, active ageing, women-centred design, and design for emergencies. Dr. Frausin is CEO and co-founder of Weartech srl, an academic spin-off focused on wearable technologies for health, wellbeing, and sport.

Angela Giambattista is Assistant Professor at the Department of Planning, Design, and Technology of Architecture at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Dr. Giambattista holds a Ph.D. in Design and Innovation from the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," a Master's in Product Design, and a Bachelor's in Industrial Design from Sapienza University of Rome. Her research focuses on Product and Service Design, Design-Driven Innovation, and User Experience Design in medical and healthcare contexts. Dr. Giambattista coordinates the Cumulus international working group "DHEA: Design for Health, Ageing, and Well-being" and leads the SID Bottom-up Working Group DHeS. She has served as scientific coordinator for major international conferences and actively contributes to teaching and supervising theses.