Effectiveness of the Inclusive Design Wheel in Practice: Lessons from Five Pilot Projects

The Inclusive Design Wheel (IDW) is an established inclusive concept design process, emphasizing iteration and early-stage evaluation. However, a structured evaluation of its effectiveness in practice has not been previously conducted. This paper describes how the IDW process was adapted for use in the design of digital mobility services. It was then trialled on five pilot projects in Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Questionnaires were completed by participants (both pilot partners and end-users) and interviews were held with pilot partners at the end of the project. Initial insights from the pilot experiences and the evaluation are described. The pilot teams found the IDW helpful and particularly valued its help in structuring the design process and offering clear steps and tools. Insights for improving the IDW focus on the importance and role of co-creation, issues with recording iteration and the balance between structure and flexibility. Implications are highlighted for improving the Inclusive Design Wheel and for inclusive design processes more generally.