Shared Space: Using walking interviews and personas to investigate user experiences

For more information on the Shared Space Project, view the project page.

Overall research: This research was undertaken by TrinityHaus (Trinity College Dublin), on behalf of the National Disability Authority’s (NDA) Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD). The aim of the research was to engage with a wide range of stakeholders in a discussion about Shared Spaces, Shared Surfaces and Home Zones in the Irish context. The research explored contemporary national and international practices and thinking on Shared Spaces, Shared Surfaces and Home Zones and investigated these concepts from a Universal Design approach in the Irish urban environment. This report set out key evidence based findings and provides key recommendations in relation to the implementation of Shared Spaces, Shared Surfaces and Home Zones in Ireland.

Working with users and stakeholders: Co-research and co-creation with users of the built environment and key stakeholders was central to this research. In this regard the research team collaborated on a number of activities including: a) Walking interviews: On-street work with a range of users including a typical motorist, cyclist, parent and child, an older person and a number of people with sensory and mobility difficulties. Each person was accompanied by one researcher and shadowed by a second. The journeys were recorded and issues were discussed as they arose with the participants. b) Personas & scenarios to investigate user experiences: Workshops where stakeholders were divided into groups, assigned a persona and a scenario, and asked to examine a desk/ paper-based journey through the experience of their specific persona. They were asked to consider which aspects of the street assisted the journey and where barriers arose.

Extract from Shared Space

To view the full report, see: TrinityHaus website

                                                    CEUD website