2.5 Design for Equitable Health: Public Policies and Participatory Practices

Corresponding Chairs

Cláudia de Souza Libânio, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre

Sara Goldchmit, University of São Paulo

Co-Chairs

Emmanuel Tsekleves, Lancaster University

Leigh-Anne Hepburn, University of Sydney

Tiago Barros Pontes e Silva, University of Brasilia

Abstract

This theme track explores the critical intersection on the role of design in promoting health equity through public policies and participatory practices. We invite submissions that delve into how participatory design approaches and community-based practices can address structural health disparities and foster more just, accessible, and inclusive healthcare systems. 

Recognizing that health outcomes are profoundly shaped by social, economic, and environmental factors, this track may address issues such as: access to care, social determinants of health, health cities, cultural diversity, disability, gender, ageing, digital inclusion, and community health infrastructures. 

We are particularly interested in contributions that: 

• highlight participatory approaches, where diverse actors, including communities and vulnerable populations, are actively involved in the design process. 

• explore co-design methodologies, community-based participatory research, and other collaborative practices that give voice to individuals and communities to shape health interventions and policies. 

• investigate ways in which design can move beyond traditional clinical settings to influence broader determinants of health, fostering environments that are accessible, inclusive, and equitable.

By gathering diverse experiences and theoretical contributions, this theme track seeks to advance the discourse on design’s responsibility in the pursuit of health equity and social justice.

Keywords

Design for Health, Equitable Health, Public Policies, Participatory Practices

References

Johnson, T. P., & Wendland, M. (2022). A role for design in global health: Making the concept of vulnerability actionable. She Ji The Journal of Design Economics and Innovation, 8(4), 486–503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sheji.2022.12.001

Machado, B.F.H., Konig-Klever, E., Libânio, C.S. (2024). Design for People with Dementia: A Scoping Review on the Perspective of Inclusion, Accessibility, and Equity in Healthcare. Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 1, 1-18.

Macdonald, A. S. (2025). Cognitive mapping: Enhancing discussions in the transdisciplinary design and health research space? The Design Journal, 1–21.

Tsekleves, E., & Cooper, R. (Eds.). (2017). Design for Health (1ª ed.). Routledge. ISBN 9781472457424.

Tsekleves, E., Cortes, C., Lume, J.G.M., Libânio, C.S., Landa-Avila, C., Hormazabal, M.S. (2023). The Little Book of Design for Health in Latin America. Lancaster: Imagination Lancaster and Design Research Society. ISBN: 978-1-86220-400-3.