Klaudia Carcani

• Stigberg, Susanne Koch; Carcani, Klaudia; Joshi, Suhas Govind & Bratteteig, Tone (2026). Participatory Design Meets Artificial Intelligence. Co-Imagining Mutual Learning of AI Technologies and Designing with AI Tools. ID&A Interaction design & architecture(s). ISSN 1826-9745. p. 5–14. doi: 10.55612/s-5002-068-001psi. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This Special Issue (N. 68) emerged as a step toward broadening the discussion about the relationship between Participatory Design (PD) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The original PD projects were motivated by the introduction of computer technologies into industrial workplaces, where they threatened to impoverish or take over jobs. Just like computers were a threat to work and workers in the 1970s and 80s, AI is seen as a threat to workers—and societies—today. Building on a workshop held at NordiCHI 2024 [1], we wanted to invite a wider community of researchers and practitioners to critically reflect on how PD can question, shape, and reimagine AI technologies and practices. The notion of AI was used for the first time in 1955 referring to a machine that can simulate human intelligence [2]. Webster [3] argues that current AI systems that are based on Machine Learning (ML) and Large Language Models (LLMs) can “be said to fulfill the original 1955 definition of AI for the first time” (p. 8). Today, AI systems are widespread and deployed rapidly across domains of considerable social significance— in healthcare, education, employment, criminal justice, and many others—without appropriate safeguards or accountability structures in place [4,5]. AI can replace human performance of tasks and “cooperate” with humans [6]. Similar to the expert systems of the second wave of AI [3], the current third wave of AI advocates AI that improves human capabilities rather than replacing them. The initiative for Human-Centered AI (HCAI) argues that AI systems should be explainable, comprehensible, useful and usable [7]. To achieve this Shneiderman [8] argues that user-centered and participatory methods engaging stakeholders in design is needed. A study of research on HCAI by Capel and Brereton [9] found that almost half the research papers could be categorized as human-centered approaches to design of AI, but very few of these were based on PD [10]. This Special Issue aims to change this.

• Stigberg, Susanne Koch; Carcani, Klaudia; Joshi, Suhas Govind & Bratteteig, Tone (2024). Participatory Design meets Artificial Intelligence: Co-imagining mutual learning of AI technologies and designing with AI tools, NordiCHI '24 Adjunct: Adjunct Proceedings of the 2024 Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction. Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). ISSN 9798400709654. doi: 10.1145/3677045.3685471. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The workshop aims to explore relations between AI and PD: how AI can be used in PD as well as how PD can influence AI systems. In the workshop participants share experiences with AI in PD, presenting materials for discussion. The outcome of the workshop will be a set of principles and guidelines and a (common) paper, and we aim to establish a special interest research community for creative use of AI in PD.

• Carcani, Klaudia & Stigberg, Susanne Koch (2023). Reflecting on Collaboration in Participatory Design Facilitation. In Marcus, Aaron; Rosenzweig, Elizabeth & Soares, Marcelo M. (Ed.), Design, User Experience, and Usability. HCII 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14030.. Springer. ISSN 9783031356995. p. 66–77. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-35699-5_6. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  While democratic practices, balancing powers, mutual learning and tools and techniques are the principles of Participatory Design (PD), they are all influenced by the practice of PD “facilitation” and the role of the facilitator(s). Facilitation in PD has been usually studied as a single entity with a facilitator that faces dilemmas in her/his role in relation to PD participants and her/his own motives and values. In this paper, we contribute to PD facilitation practice literature by studying facilitation as collaboration work compounded by many entities. We conducted a reflective analysis of the facilitation practices in two PD projects that we have managed. We found that PD projects have a multitude of facilitators. These facilitators belong to four categories: user experts, domain experts, PD experts and assistant facilitators. In time and in different PD activities facilitators may join or leave the project and also shift between categories while their expertise expands. We define this as “the network of facilitators” and discuss how such a perspective can help to improve the facilitation practice in PD.

• Karlsen, Joakim; Carcani, Klaudia & Stigberg, Susanne Koch (2023). Participatory Design Fictions: Supporting Ethical Awareness in the Digitalisation of Smart Cities' Critical Infrastructure. In Stigberg, Susanne Koch & Karlsen, Joakim (Ed.), ACHI 2023: The Sixteenth International Conference on Advances in Computer-Human Interactions. International Academy, Research and Industry Association (IARIA). ISSN 9781685580780. p. 17–23. Full text in Research Archive
• Carcani, Klaudia; Bratteteig, Tone; Holone, Harald & Herstad, Jo (2023). EquiP: A Method to Co-Design for Cooperation. Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW). ISSN 0925-9724. 32, p. 385–438. doi: 10.1007/s10606-023-09463-w. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In Participatory Design (PD), the design of a cooperative digital solution should involve all stakeholders in the co-design. When one stakeholder’s position is weaker due to socio-cultural structures or differences in knowledge or abilities, PD methods should help designers balance the power in the design process at both the macro and micro levels. We present a PD method that addresses the power relations arising during the design process and draws on theories about participation and power in the design and organisation of change processes. We contribute to Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) by using the PD method to design computer support for cooperation on cognitive rehabilitation between people with Mild Acquired Brain Injuries (MACI) and their healthcare professionals, where strengthening the cooperation is considered an element of patient empowerment. This method is presented as a contribution to the intersection between PD and CSCW. The discussion of power in PD contributes to the discussion of cooperation in CSCW. We found that EquiP supported the creation of choices, and hence the ‘power to’ influence the design. This method can contribute to a power ‘equilibrium’ and a positive-sum power relation in PD sessions involving all stakeholders.

• Gondal, Hamza Zubair; Over-Rein, Magnus; Munir, Sumayya; Afzal, Mohsin; Khalid, Aqsa & Carcani, Klaudia (2020). An Interactive Coffee Table: Exploring Ludic Engagement during Lunch Breaks. In Stephanidis, Constantine & Antona, Margherita (Ed.), HCI International 2020 Posters: 22nd International Conference, HCII 2020, Copenhagen, Denmark, July 19–24, 2020, Proceedings, Part I. Springer. ISSN 9783030507251. p. 421–428. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-50726-8_55. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  University classes may be demanding and tiring. The lunch/coffee breaks are the opportunities to reload energies for the next hour by interacting with other students and have fun together. Technology can help in enhancing this positive experience. Thus, we used the Interaction Design process to study the needs for a digital solution, which can enhance a ludic experience during lunch breaks in schools and developed an interactive prototype. Through interviews and observations, we explored what students considered ludic during breaks. Socializing in common areas and being involved in activities that require collaborative engagement, was highlighted. We used the assumptions of ludic design discussed by Gaver et al. [1] for designing our prototype, an Interactive Coffee Table, called Willy’s Pond. The solution consists of a tabletop transformed into a digital pond for Willy, the fish, to swim around. The prototype was tested in a natural setting with approximately 25 students in groups and individually. We found that the Interactive Coffee table enhances the ludic experience. Moreover, a relevant finding was that collaborative engagement was seen as a critical element for ludic design in addition to Gaver et al. [1] assumptions for designing for a ludic experience.

• Carcani, Klaudia & Holone, Harald (2020). Guidelines for Participatory Design with People Living with Mild Acquired Cognitive Impairments. International Journal on Advances in Intelligent Systems. 13(1&2), p. 59–84. Full text in Research Archive
• Harridsleff, Karine; Øien, Maren-Elise Saarenpää & Carcani, Klaudia (2020). MEMO: Designing for the Bereaved. In Stephanidis, Constantine & Antona, Margherita (Ed.), HCI International 2020 Posters: 22nd International Conference, HCII 2020, Copenhagen, Denmark, July 19–24, 2020, Proceedings, Part I. Springer. ISSN 9783030507251. p. 147–154. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-50726-8_19. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In this paper, we present a design study of people’s mourning experience after the loss of a loved one. We took a design thinking approach for studying people’s needs and further designing and prototyping a digital solution. MEMO, a wooden box designated to keep both physical and digital objects from the deceased, was developed. The digital memories are presented in an organized way in a touchscreen monitor installed in the frontal part of the box. Moreover, MEMO supports sharing the digital memories with other boxes being a part of the same family package of boxes. Finally, MEMO gives the possibility to attach digital content to physical objects through NFC tags and display its digital content in the touch screen just by laying the objects on top of the box lid. We contribute to HCI with our prototype and a better understanding of people’s needs during grief. Our aim is to continue exploring other design alternatives for facilitating grief for the bereaved.

• Ørebæk, Ole-Edvard; Aarlien, David; Said, Fahad Faisal; Andreassen, Karoline & Carcani, Klaudia (2020). BEACON: A CSCW Tool for Enhancing Co-Located Meetings Through Temporal and Activity Awareness. In Mauri, Lloret, James; Saplacan, Diana; Carcani, Klaudia; Ardiansyah, Prima Oky Dicky & Vasilache, Simona (Ed.), ACHI 2020, The Thirteenth International Conference on Advances in Computer-Human Interactions. International Academy, Research and Industry Association (IARIA). ISSN 9781612087610. p. 46–53. Full text in Research Archive
• Carcani, Klaudia; Grisot, Miria & Holone, Harald (2020). Designing Personal Health Records for Cognitive Rehabilitation. In Mauri, Lloret, James; Saplacan, Diana; Carcani, Klaudia; Ardiansyah, Prima Oky Dicky & Vasilache, Simona (Ed.), ACHI 2020, The Thirteenth International Conference on Advances in Computer-Human Interactions. International Academy, Research and Industry Association (IARIA). ISSN 9781612087610. p. 54–63. Full text in Research Archive
• Said, Fahad Faisal & Carcani, Klaudia (2020). Exploring Engagement in Distributed Meetings during COVID-19 Lock-down. In Mauri, Lloret, James; Saplacan, Diana; Carcani, Klaudia; Ardiansyah, Prima Oky Dicky & Vasilache, Simona (Ed.), ACHI 2020, The Thirteenth International Conference on Advances in Computer-Human Interactions. International Academy, Research and Industry Association (IARIA). ISSN 9781612087610. p. 104–112. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Meetings are an important part of articulation work in cooperative groups. Thus, engagement in meetings influences cooperation. In the case of distributed cooperative meetings, engagement is influenced by the spatial distance among members. Building on the existing literature, we introduce a framework for analyzing engagement in distributed cooperative meetings and study the phenomenon specifically for the period of the nationwide lock-down due to COVID-19, where remote meetings were the only choice. We interviewed 11 professionals experiencing home office during lockdown, regarding their experience about engagement in distributed cooperative meetings, and conducted five participant observations in meetings with 8, 4,6, 4 and 13 participants as a direct investigation of engagement. Findings suggest that the use of social cues, meeting facilitator and personal interest are influential factors that regulate engagement in distributed meetings. The suggested framework has potential for detecting engagement, as we discuss the implications of our findings for digital meetings platforms. This paper contributes in the field of Computer supported cooperative work and Human Computer Interaction, with discussions and future research in how to detect, obtain and sustain engagement in the context of cooperative work.

• Carcani, Klaudia; Gjellebæk, Camilla & Stigberg, Susanne Koch (2019). Participatory design as an approach for work-integrated learning of digital competences: putting theory into practice. NOKOBIT: Norsk konferanse for organisasjoners bruk av informasjonsteknologi. ISSN 1892-0748. 27(1). Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Technology is radically changing the healthcare sector. Introduction of technology demands new ways of providing healthcare services and the professionals will need new knowledge and competence to be able to do their job and to contribute to the continuous development of the sector. There is limited focus on digital competence and change-processes in the educations related to healthcare as well as in the workplaces. Applying work-integrated learning makes it possible for healthcare professionals to learn and develop their competence through practical work with examples from their own workplaces and empower them to maneuver the digitalization of the workplaces. Similar participatory design started as a movement to empower industrial workers to have a stronger voice during the introduction of new technologies at their workplace. As such participatory design is a design approach which promotes involvement of all stakeholders in the design of technologies that affects them. It provides a set of tools and techniques to enable active involvement in the design process. We use these tools and techniques to teach healthcare professionals digital competences needed in their workplaces, and we discuss opportunities of participatory design for work-integrated learning. Based on a set of three participatory design workshops, we present an approach that can empower healthcare professionals to maneuver the digital change at their workplace. We recommend continued investment in the development of work-integrated learning practices with a participatory mindset.

• Carcani, Klaudia & Holone, Harald (2019). A Participatory Design “Method Story”: The Case of Patients Living With Mild Acquired Cognitive Impairments. In Kokil, Uttam & Ota, Tomoko (Ed.), ACHI 2019, The Twelfth International Conference on Advances in Computer-Human Interactions. International Academy, Research and Industry Association (IARIA). ISSN 9781612086866. p. 210–217. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This paper presents a story on how patients with Mild Acquired Cognitive Impairment(s) (MACI) could be actively involved in Participatory Design (PD) sessions. A detailed description of what mild acquired cognitive impairments entitles is given, followed by an overview of PD and how it might be relevant in the design of new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions for this user group. The story on how we applied the method is presented as a description and reflection by the authors involved in redesigning the layout of a document in a rehabilitation hospital. The paper aims to attract the attention of PD practitioners to the MACI user group and trigger discussion and questions about PD techniques for patients with MACI.

• Carcani, Klaudia & Holone, Harald (2018). Boundary Objects or Coordination Mechanisms? IRIS Selected Papers of the Information Systems Research Seminar in Scandinavia. ISSN 1891-9863. Full text in Research Archive
• Carcani, Klaudia; Hansen, Veronica Wachek & Maartmann-Moe, Harald (2018). Exploring Technology Use in Dance Performances. In Kurosu, Masaaki (Eds.), Human-Computer Interaction. Interaction in Context. Springer Nature. ISSN 9783319912448. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-91244-8_22. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The objective of the paper is to critically reflect on how research through design (RtD) can be used to gain knowledge of a new design context within HCI. We use the design research triangle presented by Fallman [1] as the framework for analyzing and to reflect upon the RtD process. The design context to which this new knowledge was applied to is within the area of dance and technology. Our design inquiry, therefore, using the term we coined – addhance, seeks to either add a sort of novel experience, or enhance a dance performance. We, thus, taking an RtD approach, explored how the dancers could compose music by moving their bodies. We designed a Kinect based system that captures dancer’s movements and translates them into music. Intending to addhance the choreography, enlighten dancers’ movements and bring a new disrupted workflow of both creating and enjoying a dancing performance.

• Carcani, Klaudia & Mörtberg, Christina (2018). Enhancing engagement and participation of seniors in society with the use of social media - The case of a reflective participatory design method story. ID&A Interaction design & architecture(s). ISSN 1826-9745. p. 58–74. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  An ageing population is an emerging phenomenon in Europe and the rest of the world. Seniors face issues of social isolation and loneliness. Recently the research focus in ICT design has also turned to social media that can sustain seniors’ engagement and participation in social activities even when it is physically a challenge for them to leave home. Design and re-design of social media may support seniors’ engagement and participation in social activities, contributing to mitigate the feeling of loneliness and social isolation. In this paper, the focus is on understanding seniors’ social activities and their relationship to social media which may support their relationship. With Participatory Design – a reflective design approach, we have involved seniors in reflecting on possible future social media that can support and enrich social relationships. The participative methods used are cartographic mapping and future workshop, both appropriate for seniors to get involved in reflecting,thinking and making design alternatives together with other participants. We discuss how is to involve seniors in PD and what we need to know to design better future social media that can support seniors.

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• Mauri, Lloret, James; Saplacan, Diana; Carcani, Klaudia; Ardiansyah, Prima Oky Dicky & Vasilache, Simona (2020). ACHI 2020, The Thirteenth International Conference on Advances in Computer-Human Interactions. International Academy, Research and Industry Association (IARIA). ISBN 9781612087610. 312 p. Full text in Research Archive

View all works in NVA

• Karine, Harridsleff; Maren-Elise, Saarenpää Øien & Carcani, Klaudia (2020). MEMO: Designing for the Bereaved. Full text in Research Archive
• Carcani, Klaudia; Grisot, Miria & Holone, Harald (2020). Designing Personal Health Records for Cognitive Rehabilitation. Full text in Research Archive
• Saplacan, Diana & Carcani, Klaudia (2020). ACHI-CSCW: Exploring Computer-Human Interactions in New Contexts of Computer Supported Cooperative Work. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) is a field studying how cooperative work in a cooperative ensemble is supported by computers and technologies and how these contribute or hamper the cooperation between people. This editorial paper covers the ACHI-CSCW special track, giving an overview of the special track's accepted contributions. The paper presents the track, which was structured in three sessions, covering classic CSCW, CSCW in education, and challenging classic CSCW. In total, nine papers were accepted. Finally, a summary of each of the papers and final conclusions some suggestions for future directions is presented in this editorial paper.

• Carcani, Klaudia; Herstad, Jo & Holone, Harald (2019). Making activities visible: a way to patient empowerment. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Patient empowerment is a concept that has found an extensive discussion in health care. It is of significant interest, especially now when the number of people living with chronic diseases has increased. However, there is a stigma associated with being a patient, and contributing to empowerment becomes more challenging. In this paper, we present an empirical study of the cognitive rehabilitation process. We root the case analysis in Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) research field and further reflect on patient empowerment concept. Through our reflections, we contribute to the discussion of patient empowerment by highlighting some of the work structures that need to be in place in healthcare to make possible patient empowerment. Moreover, we contribute back to CSCW through a situated discourse of concepts in the context of rehabilitation care model. Rendering publicly visible the activities and facilitating the overseeing of events and activities, both in the level of the overall treatment as well as the micro-interactions among health care professionals and patients, are found relevant in building awareness among parts and leading to empowerment.

• Carcani, Klaudia & Holone, Harald (2019). A Participatory Design “Method Story”: The Case of Patients Living With Mild Acquired Cognitive Impairments. Full text in Research Archive
• Carcani, Klaudia; Gjellebæk, Camilla & Stigberg, Susanne Koch (2019). Participatory design as an approach for work-integrated learning of digital competences - putting theory into practice. Full text in Research Archive
• Carcani, Klaudia; Hansen, Veronica Wachek & Maartmann-Moe, Harald (2018). Exploring Technology Use in Dance Performances. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The objective of the paper is to critically reflect on how research through design (RtD) can be used to gain knowledge of a new design context within HCI. We use the design research triangle presented by Fallman [1] as the framework for analyzing and to reflect upon the RtD process. The design context to which this new knowledge was applied to is within the area of dance and technology. Our design inquiry, therefore, using the term we coined – addhance, seeks to either add a sort of novel experience, or enhance a dance performance. We, thus, taking an RtD approach, explored how the dancers could compose music by moving their bodies. We designed a Kinect based system that captures dancer’s movements and translates them into music. Intending to addhance the choreography, enlighten dancers’ movements and bring a new disrupted workflow of both creating and enjoying a dancing performance.

View all works in NVA