Participatory Science, the Foundation of Social Innovation Design in Healthcare

Design and social innovation appear to be closely linked. This chapter discusses how design thinking challenges the development of public policies and actions, and dominant standard thinking patterns. It shows how participatory science is a source of inspiration for developing design-based social innovation in health. The chapter, using the example of two ongoing research programs that are based on design approaches, highlights the value of experimenting with this type of approach locally. Design thinking emphasizes the importance of defining the problem. Mapping is clearly useful for systematically visualizing human experiences and reflecting on the stages or “key points” of a process. Social innovation gives rise to a variety of works and numerous definitions. Citizen participation takes place at different levels. Participatory approaches help to better understand health risks and interactions between humans and their environment.