BREAK Using a shared music experience to empower adolescent cancer patients dealing with powerless feelings

This thesis walks the reader through the research and design process of ‘Break’, a product for adolescent cancer patients. The design empowers adolescent children to deal with a situation of powerlessness, thereby fostering a positive self-image. This graduation project is part of the “Meedoen=Groeien” project of TU Delft and the Prinses Maxima centrum (PMC) for childhood oncology. The PMC employs a developmental care approach, meaning they focus on the development of the child, also in the context of family wellbeing. The approach can therefore be described as inclusive: It takes the physical, psychological and social needs of the entire family into consideration. In order to achieve this, this project extends the support framework to the home environment of the adolescent individual. ¬ Phase 1: analysis This first phase focussed on the understanding of the context in which adolescents aged between 15 – 20 years suffering from cancer operate. Literature research was conducted investigating a child’s development during older adolescence as well as the impact of cancer on this development. The main challenge for the adolescent while growing up is to understand and accept the person they are. This informed the following design question: How can adolescent cancer patients be empowered to develop and maintain a positive self-image? The key insight gained indicates that being accepting of one’s own situation results in a more positive self-image. Six cancer patients were interviewed using the context mapping method in order to understand their needs and wants. The ‘Momentos’ concept, which was developed as part of this graduation project, was used to further narrow down the scope of the project. One specific moment in an adolescent’s life was chosen to design for: Walking through the school corridors and being suspiciously stared at. Moments like these makes an adolescent feel powerless, resulting in insecurity or sadness. Phase 2: Conceptualisation The second phase involved several ideation activities. The resulting concepts were co-evaluated with cancer survivors, which informed several milestone insights. One insight was that all adolescents have the need to feel normal. This can be achieved by involving peers into the interaction facilitated by the design. That way, adolescents can accept and perceive the proposed design concept as something within the social normal instead of something unusual. Another insight was that participants valued ideas with a physical nature. They provided them with a tangible reminder of their significant relations with peers, while also providing a personal aid in dealing with stressful situations. Two main concept directions fitting the design requirements were iteratively explored, of which one matured into the final concept. Phase 3: Detailing This conceptual product, called ‘Break’, is a wearable device that can be attached to wire of existing earbuds. Adolescent cancer patients can distribute ‘Break’ to their loved ones and friends, thereby building an empowering social framework. Within this social network, users can listen to and share a song of personal meaning with others. The device is based on the interaction of bending (‘breaking’) the device. When bending, a song out of the selection will be played. That way, the adolescent cancer patient can actively influence his emotions in a situation of distress. Aspects of this concept were further elaborated through fast iterations during this detailing phase. Interactions and technical questions were addressed, amongst others. An interactive prototyping approach was chosen in order to achieve this. Phase 4: Evaluation & conclusion A final evaluation was conducted during this phase, involving one cancer survivor with a friend. Several prototypes detailing different aspects of the final concept were provided to the participants for evaluation. While both participants were very positive about the concept, the cancer patient expressed particular enthusiasm about the social aspects of the concept, whereas his friend related to the tangible nature of the interaction most. This shows that the design concept accommodates the needs of the two main stakeholders. As a recommendation for further research, other stakeholders, such as family members and hospital staff should be included in the testing procedures. Furthermore, detailing work on certain aspects of the concept remains to be done. Finally, the product should be long-term tested and evaluated with hospital professionals.Industrial Design EngineeringIndustrial Desig