A problem family — different problems, same issues

designed for the wrong person

16 problems across 7 fields

These 16 problems share a failure most designers don't expect: the intervention was designed for the wrong person. Members include assistive technology designed without disabled users, data platforms for indigenous communities built on colonial frameworks, neurodivergent students assessed by rubrics written for neurotypical ones, and emergency latrines built without accessibility. The pattern appears in design and in whole systems as well as in programs meant to change behavior.

The intervention failed because it was designed to change the wrong person: fixing students when the institution was the problem, training patients when the device needed redesign, imposing solutions without understanding the setting.

Ways this family shows up

Health designed without the patient. Assistive technology, medical devices, maternal care, and cooking fuel designed without the experience of the people who use them
Assessment that doesn't fit. Evaluation methods that penalize deaf, neurodivergent, or rural learners and teachers
Digital access and control of data. Digital platforms built on frameworks that exclude the populations they serve
Environmental justice. Environmental programs that ignore the community's circumstances, as in urban food security and solar waste recycling

The 16 problems in this family

the female farmer the app forgotbuilt without the people who'd live with itmedium

data governance built without askingbuilt without the people who'd live with itmedium

entitled, but unenrolledbuilt without the people who'd live with ithigh

every test assumes one kind of brainbuilt without the people who'd live with itmedium

fixing the student instead of the institutionbuilt without the people who'd live with ithigh

invisible to the systembuilt without the people who'd live with ithigh

also in designed for a world that doesn’t exist here, the context you didn’t design for

hospital machines at the kitchen tablethe rules got in the wayhigh

the test said no, the doctor prescribed anywaybuilt without the people who'd live with ithigh

built for the clinic, worn at homebuilt without the people who'd live with ithigh

antivenom waits at hospitals victims can't reachthe economics don't workhigh

also in the context you didn’t design for

no id, no aidthe rules got in the waymedium

also in the rulebook was written for a world that no longer exists

latrines that fifteen percent cannot usebuilt without the people who'd live with ithigh

sixty-five thousand acres burned for dinnerbuilt without the people who'd live with ithigh

also in the context you didn’t design for

digitized aid that disabled refugees can't reachit fell between the crackshigh

also in the context you didn’t design for

therapy designed for a clinic, needed in a campbuilt without the people who'd live with ithigh

also in the context you didn’t design for

Confidence: high = from a primary expert source (Tier 1) · medium = from an analyst, conference, or community source (Tier 2 or 3) · needs sourcing = flagged until we find a better source · the dot's size is its tier; a dashed dot needs sourcing

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designed for the wrong persondesigned for the wrong person

Ways this family shows up

The 16 problems in this family

designed for the wrong persondesigned for the wrong person

Ways this family shows up

The 16 problems in this family

designed for the wrong person

designed for the wrong person