Abstract
With increasing longevity and changes in population demographics; designers, engineers and architects are faced with the challenge of providing older adults with enabling technologies and home environments that facilitate physical activity and wellbeing. To promote acceptance and adoption, making these technologies more desirable and less stigmatizing is crucial. In this paper, we outline a craft-based co-design methodology that we developed working with groups of care home residents designing wearables for research. The research asks care home residents to wear activity-monitoring devices to provide insight into the ways they currently utilise their spaces and where improvements could be made. We propose that a craft-based approach allows designers to understand and uncover people’s capabilities and needs in a non-intrusive and empathic way. Our findings show that using this approach enabled creativity, confidence and connectedness amongst participants. We discuss our reflections and insights that have implications on the approach and future work.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Proceedings of DRS2016 |
Subtitle of host publication | Design + Research + Society - Future-Focused Thinking |
Editors | Peter Lloyd, Erik Bohemia |
Publisher | Design Research Society |
Pages | 3295-3311 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Volume | 8 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Event | 2016 Design Research Society 50th Anniversary Conference - Brighton Dome, Brighton, United Kingdom Duration: 27 Jun 2016 → 30 Jun 2016 http://www.drs2016.org/#drs2016 |
Conference
Conference | 2016 Design Research Society 50th Anniversary Conference |
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Abbreviated title | DRS 2016 |
Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
City | Brighton |
Period | 27/06/16 → 30/06/16 |
Internet address |