Exploring Inclusive Design Testing Process: A Case Study of Low Vision Communities in Indonesia

<p><strong>Ensuring inclusion in participatory design remains context-specific, with accessible design testing largely dependent on designers' subjective experience and understanding. Using Research through Design approach, this study examines how UX designers adapt qualitative design methods to enhance accessibility for participants with low vision while ensuring meaningful inclusion.</strong></p><p>I critically analysed existing design precedents to establish foundational knowledge of participatory design with participants living with impairments for thoughtful power-sharing during data collection. Building on this theoretical foundation, I conducted primary research with 10 participants across two Indonesian communities, employing three adapted qualitative design methods to explore methodological variations and capture insights about inclusive participatory design practices.</p><p>Through reflexive analysis of my research process, I identified four key themes crucial for inclusive participatory design: ethical conduct, designer positionality and power, facilitation skills, and access intimacy. The research reveals that effective inclusive design requires designers to move beyond empathy towards developing compassion and what Stolterman (2008) terms being "prepared-for-action." This thesis contributes practical principles for adapting qualitative design methods that enhance accessibility while maintaining rigorous data collection. It offers designers a framework for creating genuinely inclusive participatory experiences requiring relational sensitivity and environmental awareness.</p>