“Nothing in this house Is by chance”: design ethnography for the well-being of children with autism

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explore how design can contribute to fostering the well-being of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in their home environment. We report on a single case study that involved an in-depth study of the lived experiences of a child with ASD and their family at home. This qualitative and exploratory research followed the principles of design ethnography, favouring naturalistic data collection that occurred in re-al-world settings. The results show that technical standards, guidelines, and best practices for interior spaces are important and often appropriate for general purpose. However, ASD manifests differently for different people and this means customised solutions are required. Designers do not always have the tools and time needed to devise solutions that are not only functional, but also suited to the individual needs of a person with ASD. The research described here thus contributes to informing best practices for designing home environments that are appropriate, safe, comfortable and, above all, that respect the privacy, individuality, and preferences of children with ASD and of their families.