Ana Laura Rodrigues Santos and Linda S.G.L.Wauben
This study focuses on the role of systems design in addressing the challenges of healthcare provision by international emergency relief organisations in developing countries. More specifically, the challenges related to the safety and performance of medical devices that are transferred in the aftermath of a humanitarian crisis. Our aim is to describe this transfer on the basis of two field studies in Indonesia and Haiti and reflect on the value of human factors and ergonomics for a systems design approach. The presented concepts support designers in handling a larger degree of complexity and support them to think more steps ahead in a design project. Future studies will involve collaborative design projects dedicated to bringing this reflection further to the development of healthcare products and services.
Also, see
Rodrigues Santos, A.L., Da Costa Junior, J. & Wauben L. (2014). Designing Products and Services for Challenging Societal Contexts. Relating Systems Thinking and Design, RSD3. https://rsdsymposium.org/challenging-societal-contexts/