2134/18557 John McCardle John McCardle Ian Storer Ian Storer George Torrens George Torrens Shaun Whitehead Shaun Whitehead Jen Mailley Jen Mailley Graham Farrell Graham Farrell Offending users: designing-in deterrence with mobile telephones Loughborough University 2015 User Participation Crime prevention Mobile products Information Systems Design Practice and Management not elsewhere classified 2015-08-26 08:38:01 Journal contribution https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/Offending_users_designing-in_deterrence_with_mobile_telephones/9348281 This paper describes research relating to the design semantics of desirable products and the crime of theft. The methods employed range from the review of existing designs of mobile phones and associated systems and technologies, the perception of crime from a student designer's viewpoint and, importantly, the opinions of young offenders about proposed design solutions. We developed conceptual designs in consultation with the Mobile Data Association and these were reviewed by a sample of groups of young offenders and 'non-offender' consumers of similar age, to reflect the different user perspectives. The conclusions reveal differences between offenders and non-offenders in their perceptions of the deterrent effect of different design solutions. It is suggested that the research offers insight into the use of empathic strategies in the design of frequently stolen 'hot products'.