D4H

DESIGN FOR HEALTH

Contact person: Joana Quental

DESIGN FOR HEALTH
This group aligns with Cluster 1 of the EU’s R&I future priorities 2025-2027. “The WHO definition of health as complete wellbeing is no longer fit for purpose given the rise of chronic disease. Machteld Huber and colleagues propose changing the emphasis towards an ability to adapt and self-manage in the face of social, physical, and emotional challenges” (BMJ 2011;343:d4163). DESIGN FOR HEALTH thus focuses on the interface between people and health,  environments, products and services, by employing design tools and strategies to promote health literacy, social inclusion and subjective wellbeing. The group currently invests in a Health Design Lab, developing applied research in multidisciplinary contexts, bringing together design, clinical medicine, psychology, sociology and communication skills. The lab’s mission consists of contributing to health literacy and patient empowerment, assisting patients in analysing risks and making choices, promoting inclusion, contributing to disease prevention, and counteracting health misinformation.