The Wizard of Oz (WoZ) method is a design and research approach where users interact with what appears to be an autonomous system, but is in fact operated by a human “wizard.” In co-design studies, WoZ is often applied in the Develop Phase to simulate features that do not yet exist, explore user reactions, and rapidly prototype interaction ideas without requiring full system development.

Application Example​

In a study exploring how social robots might reduce stress among teens in school environments, researchers introduced a Wizard of Oz (PWoZ) method. Teens acted as operators (wizards) controlling the robot, as users interacting with it, and as witnesses observing others’ interactions. They also contributed to creating the content of robot interactions. This participatory approach allowed researchers to capture authentic reactions to both verbal and non-verbal robots in real-world settings, revealing themes such as authenticity, empathy, emotional engagement, and the idea that imperfection can create connection. (Bjorling et al., 2020)