Ester Iacono

The research project "DeinSite" – The Design System in the Southern Italy Territories investigates the strategic relationship between design and craftsmanship as a lever for local development in Southern Italy. An initial mapping phase conducted in the Campania region identified corporate museums, production districts, and artisanal SMEs, highlighting the interplay between heritage, innovation, and material culture. The article presents the methodology, selection criteria, and key findings of this mapping, offering a critical reflection on its limits and potential. Challenges included fragmented data collection, the heterogeneity of case studies, and the need to ensure the long-term sustainability of the digital platform created. Future developments include extending the mapping to other southern regions, activating workshops and exhibitions, and strengthening the platform as a shared infrastructure for connection and co-design. The contribution outlines a model for the integrated valorisation of local know-how, positioning design as a cultural mediator and catalyst for new territorial networks.

Recent advances in EEG technology have addressed some crucial challenges, focusing on developing more advanced monitoring devices. However, finding a balance between comfort, aesthetics, recording efficiency and adaptability to different contexts, such as home and paediatric settings, remains an open challenge. It is known that children can be sensitive to uncomfortable or invasive devices; therefore, the article examines innovation scenarios in paediatric neuro- physiology. The research at Meyer Children’s Hospital in Florence proposes an entirely new vision of the EEG monitoring device to ensure a more user-friendly and familiar system for children. Thanks to the application of Human-Centred Design and User Experience methodologies, it was possible to analyse the cur- rent critical issues and define the requirements of Cosmos+. This new system was developed to improve the experience of young patients, reduce discomfort and promote personalised monitoring even at home, representing a new frontier in paediatric neurophysiology.

The research project presented in the article aims to provide an analytical overview of academic publications in the ICAR/13 field, using a data-driven methodology to analyse over 5,000 articles published in more than 850 journals from 1980 to the present day. The objective is to identify the main thematic areas of design research and trace their evolution over time, with a particular focus on gaps and future opportunities. The analysis reveals the importance of journal publications as a primary source for the dissemination of academic research and as a fundamental resource for the development of new trends. The theme of sources and resources emerges in two aspects: on the one hand, publications serve as essential resources for the supply of knowledge; on the other, they constitute the very product of research, representing the point of convergence between the production of new knowledge and its dissemination. The study concludes with a proposal for new strategies to improve the accessibility and visibility of academic publications in the field of design.

Wearable exoskeletons hold promise for reducing the physical strain of healthcare workers, yet their emotional and experiential impact remains underexplored. This study, part of the Exo.Care program, investigated healthcare workers’ emotional responses and user experience during a 30-day trial of a passive exoskeleton in residential and home-care settings. Using the Geneva Emotion Wheel (GEW) and the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ), results showed that initial interactions elicited predominantly positive emotions, such as interest and admiration, reflecting the novelty effect. After prolonged use, positive emotional intensity decreased, while fear and disappointment emerged, highlighting gaps between expectations and actual performance. UEQ results revealed usability challenges in efficiency, dependability, and stimulation, though novelty and attractiveness were positively rated. Findings underscore the importance of integrating emotional and ergonomic factors in exoskeleton design to enhance acceptability, facilitate adoption, and ensure these devices can be effectively incorporated into healthcare workflows.

Hospital communication and wayfinding are crucial challenges, especially in paediatric contexts where orienting oneself in space and managing emotions is particularly difficult. The complexity of hospital environments and the ineffectiveness of orientation systems can cause cognitive stress and difficulties understanding, negatively influencing healthcare quality and operational efficiency. An effective wayfinding system must communicate clear messages, making the hospital space interpretable and familiar, using scientific approaches integrated into the architecture. Technologies such as mobile apps can improve orientation and personalize assistance, but a thorough evaluation of the usability and effectiveness of these systems is necessary. This article addresses the challenges of hospital-paediatric wayfinding by presenting a new mobile app that combines navigation, booking and entertainment. The study, conducted at the Meyer Children’s Hospital in Florence, made it possible to define the requirements of a new orientation system for the medical day hospital, improving autonomous orientation and optimizing the user experience. The proposed solution developed thanks to the application of the Human-Centred Design and User Experience approach, aims to reduce stress and improve hospital efficiency, transforming the wayfinding experience into an interactive and engaging process for paediatric patients and their parents.

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterised by motor and non-motor symptoms, which is expected to increase exponentially in the coming decades, with a negative impact on healthcare systems. The disease is chronic and leads to a progressive and gradual loss of independence, with a significant negative impact on the quality of life of the person affected and their family. The research proposal aims to improve the quality of life of people with Parkinson's and their carers through the creation of two virtual emotional scenarios designed to improve well-being, promote positive emotions and, potentially, reduce side effects and dependence on medication. This goal will be pursued using methodological sources and scientific principles found in the literature, which will be implemented through the use of human and technological resources in order to test new intervention scenarios.

Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) promote innovation and competitiveness in various sectors. However, despite technological advances, many communities remain excluded from benefits due to economic, physical and social barriers. This exclusion is particularly evident among elderly, disabled and economically disadvantaged populations. Therefore, there is an urgent need for inclusive solutions that leverage KETs to fill these gaps. This paper explores how KETs can be integrated into service design to foster inclusive living communities. A series of exemplary case studies are presented, which illustrate the successful implementation of KETs in inclusive living environments. Finally, the advantages, drawbacks and consequences of these implementations are analysed with the aim of suggesting KETs-oriented service-based solutions designed to assist in the establishment of inclusive living communities, with the objective of fostering social inclusion and sustainable development.

The research approach and the design of the proposed solutions are based on Human-Centred Design and Inclusive Design principles and the involvement of different user profiles, in particular associations of people with visual, hearing and motor disabilities, with whom design solutions have been developed that integrate the possibility of multisensory involvement of visitors and the development of a customisable visitor experience aimed at as wide an audience as possible.

The proposed solutions integrate multisensory stations, which offer the possibility of tactile reading of the works, verbal descriptions, and olfactory stimuli, with video guides created using a mobile application that can be customised according to different needs. The design solutions are accompanied by the creation of a platform for the dissemination and sharing of the project, divided into informative, documentary, instrumental and community sections.  The XALL project, funded by the TIM Foundation and carried out by the Ergonomics and Design Laboratory of the Department of Architecture of the University of Florence, with the participation of the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering of the Politecnico di Milano, was developed with the Bargello Museum, the Palazzo Vecchio Museum and the Bardini Museum in Florence.  The associations ENS Ente Nazionale Sordi (National Deaf Association), UIC Unione Italiana Ciechi e Ipovedenti (Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired), HABILIA ONLUS Associazione di Paratetraplegici e altri disabili motori (Association of Paraplegics and other Motor Disabled People) participated in the project.

Modern neurophysiological techniques have expanded the under- standing of cortical dysfunctions in paediatric neurological diseases, such as brain injuries and epilepsy, which are associated with high rates of mortality and disability. Electroencephalography (EEG), a crucial method for diagnosing and monitoring critical patients, presents significant challenges in paediatric use due to usability and comfort issues associated with traditional systems. The research at the Meyer Children’s Hospital in Florence aimed to develop innovative solutions to optimise brain activity monitoring in paediatric patients. The interaction between the patient and the device was analysed using Human-Centred Design (HCD) and User Experience (UX) approaches. The investigation revealed critical issues in the current workflow, highlighting usability problems and discomfort caused by traditional EEG devices. These findings led to the design of the Cosmo+ EEG System, a modular device that offers personalised monitoring, providing a more user-friendly and less invasive experience. This device could improve workflow and patient satisfaction, representing a significant advancement in neurophysiology with potential clinical and research applications, including home use.

Today, the social inclusion concept embraces numerous aspects and contexts of everyday life. Inclusive Design, going far beyond the design of products/services, plays a crucial role in fostering the inclusion of individuals within society and improving their living conditions. Inclusive design, however, should ensure a more humane and conscious design process that does not limit its attention solely to artifacts’ usability requirements but allows for the inclusion and evaluation of the emotional effects associated with interacting with them. This aspect is particularly important in the case of products and environments aimed at vulnerable, elderly, or disabled people, which can induce a perception of threat and stigmatize their physical and mental condition. Therefore, this article presents the results of the Home Care Design for Parkinson’s Disease research project. Through the literature review, it was possible to analyze the contribution of technologies in generating pleasurable sensory experiences but, more importantly, to investigate the role of Emotional Design and Evidence-Based Design approach. They can play a role in resolving problems related to environmental, perceptual-sensory, and stress factors and, in some cases, slowing down the course of the disease and ensuring greater well-being. Therefore, the research work, developed through the application of Human-Centered Design methodologies, aims to: (1) define Design Guidelines to identify people with Parkinson’s disease needs and difficulties within the home context; (2) set up an analytical method that proposes future intervention scenarios to improve their quality of life and that of their families and caregivers, through the mapping of emotional indicators.