Valuing the design process in HIV prevention, diagnosis and stigma

A group of health workers and designers teamed up to develop novel ways to respond to HIV prevention, diagnosis, and HIV-stigma challenges. They integrated creative, participatory, user-centred design skills with scientific and clinical expertise to address emerging challenges. This paper explains how this interdisciplinary collaboration evolved, reflecting on how a design centred approach is valued and influences collaboration and outcomes in health projects. The research explores three projects in which design tools and methods such as user workshops, user journeys, scenarios, personas and interaction mockups were employed. Project one aimed to develop a pilot service to encourage HIV self-testing among men who have sex with men (MSM). It included a series of design workshops involving members of the LGBT community and People Living with HIV (PLWH). The final design involved the building and testing of a bespoke vending machine to distribute free self-test kits, and of its digital interface. Project two aimed to develop a programme/campaign to increase HIV testing rates in general practice surgeries in Brighton and Hove. Project three, intended to reduce HIV stigma and discrimination using digital resources disseminated via social media platforms. The paper identifies critical aspects emerging from the collaborative design process, shows how it is valued by health workers and demonstrates how the utilization of a design centred approach enables creative responses and facilitates collaboration and user involvement in the context of HIV prevention, diagnosis and treatment.