Design thinking in policy making: how can user experience inform refugee integration?

Barri, Allaa (2026). Design thinking in policy making: how can user experience inform refugee integration? University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This thesis investigates the multifaceted nature of refugee integration and the potential of applying design thinking in shaping integration policies and services. The study highlights the role design thinking can play in addressing the gaps in the current refugee integration policy cycle, offering a fresh approach to bridging local and national perspectives and ensuring cohesive problem definition across governance levels. By facilitating co-production of policies involving policymakers, authorities, and refugees, design thinking can foster an inclusive, adaptive, and human-centred policy development framework.

Design thinking is a human-centred approach to innovation that draws from the designer's toolkit to integrate the needs of people. It involves five stages: Empathise, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. In the context of policymaking, design thinking can help create more effective and user-centric policies by involving end-users in the co-production process. It emphasises understanding the experiences and needs of the people affected by policies, defining the problems clearly, brainstorming and developing innovative solutions, creating prototypes, and testing these solutions iteratively. Design thinking when utilised in policymaking can bridge the gap between policymakers and the communities they serve. By involving stakeholders, including refugees, in the design process, policymakers can develop more informed, adaptive, and responsive policies. This approach ensures that the policies are not only theoretically sound but also practically applicable and beneficial to the target population. The iterative nature of design thinking also allows for continuous improvement and adaptation, making policies more resilient and effective in addressing complex social issues.

The research presents a detailed framework for understanding the elements influencing integration policymaking, emphasising the multidimensionality of integration, local governance dynamics, and agenda setting. Design thinking's integration into the policy cycle brings assessment into the early stages of agenda setting and policy formulation, potentially reducing time inefficiencies and enhancing policy effectiveness. This approach ensures that policies are aligned with the needs and experiences of refugees and host communities.

The main aim of this research was to develop practical ideas for refugee integration with refugees, and feed them into policymaking processes to support the development of coordinated and holistic policies for sustainable integration. The study was guided by the main research question: “How can a design thinking approach help generate new knowledge about refugee integration in the UK?”. This question arises from the intersection of design thinking and refugee integration in the UK, a field that has undergone significant transformations since the early 2000s. Refugee integration is not only a matter of urgent social importance but also one fraught with political sensitivity. Refugees, representing a particularly vulnerable group, face an extra layer of challenges to their integration journey due to their traumatic migration experiences. The UK, with its diverse and complex landscape, presents a unique setting for this research, particularly in Birmingham, which has a large and diverse population of refugees and asylum seekers.

This question was operationalised through six objectives, each associated with subresearch questions and methods. One objective was to implement a design thinking approach with refugees to ensure their co-production in integration policy. This involved Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with refugees and interviews with policymakers. Another objective aimed to identify what refugees understand integration to be, using brainstorming activities within the FGDs. Additionally, the research explored the types of integration policy refugees identify as needed to meet their needs, using various design thinking activities. It also aimed to determine if design thinking tools could facilitate collective knowledge generation among refugees, assessed through pre-post FGD questionnaires. Finally, the research looked into how the knowledge collated using the design thinking approach can help policymakers design and implement new refugee integration interventions, achieved through two rounds of interviews with policymakers.

Given the research objectives, a mixed-method research strategy was employed, emphasising both context and individual experiences. A combination of methods including document review, FGDs with design thinking activities, in-depth interviews, and questionnaires was utilised. This triangulation provided a comprehensive view of the design thinking process in refugee integration.

Empirical findings from a case study in Birmingham revealed the lived experiences of refugees and their perspectives on integration, highlighting gaps in housing, employment, education, and health services. The co-designed solutions proposed by refugees, although viewed as not entirely feasible by policymakers, provided valuable insights for future policy development. Policymakers’ engagement with the codesigned solutions underscored the potential of design thinking to create more inclusive, adaptive, and human-centred policy frameworks, but also highlighted some limitations that could be explored further in future research. Future research should explore the scalability and adaptability of design thinking methodologies across different contexts and refugee populations. Studies should also examine the long-term effects of policies and services developed through design thinking on refugee integration outcomes, tracking their effectiveness, sustainability, and adaptability. Additionally, the integration of digital technologies within design thinking processes could enhance refugee participation in policy co-production. Comparative studies evaluating the effectiveness of design thinking against other methodologies would also provide valuable insights, and developing robust frameworks for measuring the impact of design thinking on policy and service outcomes is crucial. By addressing these key areas, future research can build on this PhD's foundational work, advancing our understanding of how design thinking can be leveraged to create more humane, effective, and sustainable solutions for refugees and their host communities.

Ultimately, this thesis advocates for a shift towards more inclusive and adaptive policy frameworks, leveraging design thinking to involve end-users (i.e., refugees) in policymaking and design of services for integration, to ensure that policies are responsive to the needs and aspirations of refugees.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):