Frustration as Design Friction: How People with Mild Cognitive Impairment Adapt, Resist, and Redesign Systems

Frustration is more than a byproduct of poor design–it is friction that exposes inaccessibility . People with mild cognitive impairment (PwMCI) constantly adapt, regularly confronting inaccessible technologies and environments, while undergoing cognitive changes that affect their lives. We consider frustration as a participant-driven design friction, which disabled designers argue illuminates and counters systemic ableism. We conducted participatory research with PwMCI and care partners, to understand their experiences with frustration. Participants reported frustration in most aspects of life, from how they communicate, navigate ability changes, and use technology. They designed social and technological interventions to counter frustration, supporting conflict navigation, home organization, and compensating for aphasia. We contribute a deep characterization of how PwMCI confront and reimagine frustration, and reflect on their agency in adapting to the challenges they face. In doing so, we highlight how frustration acts as a form of design friction, revealing systemic barriers that limit technology use. We critically examined these systemic barriers, often rooted in ableist societal norms, technological inequities, and accessibility barriers which all shape the use of technology by PwMCI. This paper guides designers to recognize the broader patterns of inaccessibility that affect PwMCI, situating their work within these dynamics to understand how frustration can reveal exclusionary practices and inspire more inclusive, equitable designs.