2134/32184 Kiel Long Kiel Long Lyndsey Bakewell Lyndsey Bakewell Roisin C. McNaney Roisin C. McNaney Konstantina Vasileiou Konstantina Vasileiou Mark Atkinson Mark Atkinson Manuela Barreto Manuela Barreto Julie Barnett Julie Barnett Michael Wilson Michael Wilson Shaun Lawson Shaun Lawson John Vines John Vines Connecting those that care: Designing for transitioning, talking, belonging and escaping Loughborough University 2018 Carers Informal care Co-design Qualitative study Studies in the Creative Arts and Writing not elsewhere classified 2018-03-13 10:16:02 Conference contribution https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/conference_contribution/Connecting_those_that_care_Designing_for_transitioning_talking_belonging_and_escaping/9320585 Care provision in many nations increasingly relies on the work of informal, or non-professional, carers. Often these carers experience substantial disruptions and reductions to their own sociality, weakened social support networks and, ultimately, a heightened risk of social isolation. We describe a qualitative study, comprised of interviews, design workshops and probes, that investigated the social and community support practices of carers. Our findings highlight issues related to becoming and recognising being a carer, and feelings of being ignored by, and isolated from, others. We also note the benefits that sharing between carers can bring, and routes to coping and relaxing from the burdens of care. We conclude with design considerations for facilitating new forms of digitally mediated support that connect those that care, emphasising design qualities related to transitioning, talking, belonging and escaping.