Ludden, G., Niedderer, K., Holthoff-Detto, V., Dening, T., 2024.

Introduction

The introduction to Part 2 of this book explores how design practice has been active in the health and wellbeing domain for many years. It then elaborates on how the field has become more complex, makes use of innovative technology, which increases the need to involve multiple disciplines in the design of interventions. A broad definition of the term 'interventions' is provided as anything that changes an existing state into a preferred one. Interventions can be processes and services but also new ways of working and tangible products (often devices using some form of technology) that can be used in these new ways of working. Design methods leading to such interventions are developing as well and the importance of thorough evaluation of the designed interventions is discussed, highlighting methodological differences between the health and design domains. The introduction concludes with an overview of the nine chapters that together fill Part 2 of this book.