Design Informant

A participatory design role in which users contribute to the design process by providing input, preferences, and feedback, but the researcher retains responsibility for interpreting this data and making design decisions. This approach contrasts with the Design Partner model where users participate as equal collaborators. The Design Informant approach is particularly relevant when working with participants who may experience anxiety or difficulty engaging in abstract design thinking, such as individuals with autism or intellectual disabilities, allowing their perspectives to shape the design without placing undue cognitive or social demands on them.