Dare voce: nuove prospettive per il design partecipativo attraverso l'arte nel dibattito su tecnologie assistive e demenza

Supporting the anti-ageist perspective in discussions about caring for people with dementia (PwD), the article explores how participatory design (PD) for designing technology for PwD can be enriched through the integration of tools from the participatory arts, particularly Applied Theatre (AT). Adopting a relational approach, the article argues that participatory arts and AT can improve participatory design with PwD because they are practices capable of opening non-verbal communication channels, stimulating creativity and drawing on memories and abilities beyond the cognitive dimension. The article outlines two main lines of develop-ment. The first suggests mobilising the expertise of theatre professionals as qualified facilita-tors in multidisciplinary research teams. The second explores how PD can be enriched in terms of knowledge by the arts by integrating specific techniques and practices. In summary, the dialogue between participatory design and art aims to meaningfully involve PwD in design, ensuring a space for expression beyond stereotypical views of fragility and dependence among people with dementia.