The role of product development in the battle against product-related stigma - a literature review

Stigma may be the Achilles' heel of Inclusive Design, having a variety of negative effects on the user, e.g. anxiety or depression. From a product development (PD) perspective, such negative user stigmatisation can lead to the rejection of a product. PD cannot defeat stigma itself, but it can make a valuable contribution by reducing product-related stigma. Joining the battle, this contribution analyses the role of PD and identifies supports that help to reduce stigma in the respective context using an initial and a systematic literature review. The role of PD is split into four categories addressing the need to fulfil specific demands (reduce stigma and improve personal well-being), exploit potentials (see design as a tool, use the power of product semantics and design for our future selves), solve current problems (lack of knowledge and not taking the user seriously) and manage boundary conditions (complexity of stigma and the stigma-sensitivity of products). Individual, process, educational solutions or general strategies are supports that help meeting those expectations. Due to different challenges, there is still a need for action to improve those supports to deliver specific design recommendations and reduce the lack of knowledge.