Creative sensitisation as epistemic intervention: reducing social desirability bias in co-design through “self-audience framing”
File(s)
Author(s)
Sebastian, Serena
Canghizer, Diana
Forward, Mabel
Mougenot, Celine
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Social desirability bias (SDB) can shape how participants narrate sensitive experiences in participatory research and co-design, limiting the authenticity of data generated. This study examines how creative, arts-based sensitisation can mitigate SDB and support more genuine storytelling in health-related co-design. Adopting a design research approach, we developed a comic-making sensitisation intervention grounded in literature on reflective storytelling, safe expression, and participatory preparedness. The intervention was deployed in ‘Designing for Women’s Health’ workshops with 10 women (aged 18–24) with lived experiences of gynaecological and other health conditions. Generative and evaluative follow-up interviews were analysed thematically, drawing on established SDB frameworks. Findings show that the intervention supported memory resurfacing, emotional processing, and self-reflection, enabling participants to construct narratives oriented towards themselves rather than an external audience. We identify self-audience framing as a key mechanism through which creative sensitisation enhances storytelling authenticity in sensitive participatory contexts. The study contributes to co-design by theorising sensitisation as an epistemic intervention that shapes the social conditions of knowledge production and informs inclusive participatory design.
Date Issued
2026-04-15
Date Acceptance
2026-03-16
Citation
CoDesign, 2026
ISSN
1571-0882
Publisher
Taylor and Francis Group
Journal / Book Title
CoDesign
Copyright Statement
© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any med ium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
Publication Status
Published online
Date Publish Online
2026-04-15