Transforming paper-based assessment forms to a digital format: exemplified by the Housing Enabler prototype app

Background: The aim of this paper is to provide the reader with an overall impression of the stepwise user-centred design approach including the specific methods used and lessons learned when transforming paper-based assessment forms into a prototype app, taking the Housing Enabler as an example.
Methods: Four design iterations were performed, building on a domain study, workshops, expert evaluation and controlled and realistic usability tests. The user-centred design process involved purposefully selected participants with different Housing Enabler knowledge and housing adaptation experience.
Results: The design iterations resulted in the development of a Housing Enabler prototype app. The prototype app has several features and options that are new compared with the original paper-based Housing Enabler assessment form. These new features include a user friendly overview of the assessment form; easy navigation by swiping back and forth between items; onsite data analysis; and ranking of the accessibility score, photo documentation and a data export facility.
Conclusion: Based on the presented stepwise approach, a high-fidelity Housing Enabler prototype app was successfully developed. The development process has emphasized the importance of combining design participants’ knowledge and experiences, and has shown that methods should seem relevant to participants to increase their engagement.