Designing digital artifacts is not a linear, straightforward process. This is particularly true when applying a user-centered design approach, or co-design, with users who are unable to participate in the design process. Although the reduced participation of a particular user group may harm the end result, the literature on solving this issue is sparse. In this article, proxy design is outlined as a method for involving a user group as proxy users to speak on behalf of a group that is difficult to reach. We present a design ethnography spanning three years at a cancer rehabilitation clinic, where digital artifacts were designed to be used collaboratively by nurses and patients. The empirical data were analyzed using content analysis and consisted of 20 observation days at the clinic, six proxy design workshops, 21 telephone consultations between patients and nurses, and log data from the digital artifact. We show that simulated consultations, with nurses roleplaying as proxies for patients ignited and initiated the design process and enabled an efficient in-depth understanding of patients. Moreover, we reveal how proxy design as a method further expanded the design. We illustrate: (1) proxy design as a method for initiating design, (2) proxy design as an embedded element in co-design and (3) six design guidelines that should be considered when engaging in proxy design. The main contribution is the conceptualization of proxy design as a method that can ignite and initiate the co-design process when important users are unreachable, vulnerable or unable to represent themselves in the co-design process. Based on the empirical findings from a design ethnography that involved nurses as proxy users speaking on behalf of patients, the article shows that roleplaying in proxy design is a fitting way of initiating the design process, outlining proxy design as an embedded element of co-design.

翻译：数字人工制品的设计并非线性、直接的过程，当采用以用户为中心的设计方法或协同设计，且目标用户群体无法参与设计过程时尤其如此。尽管特定用户群体的参与度降低可能损害最终成果，但解决这一问题的文献却相对匮乏。本文提出代理设计作为一种方法，通过引入代理用户群体代表难以接触的群体发声。我们通过为期三年的癌症康复诊所设计民族志研究，展示数字人工制品如何被设计供护士与患者协同使用。实证数据采用内容分析法，包含20天临床观察、六场代理设计工作坊、21次患者与护士的电话咨询记录及数字人工制品日志数据。研究表明，通过护士角色扮演模拟咨询作为患者代理，能激发并启动设计过程，促进对患者的高效深层理解。此外，我们揭示代理设计方法如何进一步扩展设计维度。具体阐述了：(1) 作为设计启动方法的代理设计，(2) 作为协同设计嵌入式要素的代理设计，(3) 实施代理设计时应遵循的六项设计准则。主要贡献在于将代理设计概念化为一种方法，当关键用户无法触及、处于弱势或难以在协同设计中自我表达时，该方法可激发并启动协同设计过程。基于让护士作为代理用户代表患者发声的设计民族志实证发现，本文论证了角色扮演在代理设计中是启动设计过程的适宜方式，并将代理设计界定为协同设计的嵌入式要素。