Aging-friendly Participatory Design Research
The Future Lab, Tsinghua University

Role

Design Researcher

Team

AeX (Aging User Experience & Service System Design Team)

Time

Oct > Nov 2022

Overview

I joined the AeX research team in October 2022 and conducted a Participatory Design workshop with senior citizens in Beijing. How do designers establish an engaging user research experience with senior people?

Role

Design Researcher

Team

AeX (Aging User Experience & Service System Design Team)

Time

Oct > Nov 2022

Overview

I joined the AeX research team in October 2022 and conducted a Participatory Design workshop with senior citizens in Beijing. How do designers establish an engaging user research experience with senior people?

Introduction

Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world's population over 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22%.

Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world's population over 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22%.

Globally Aging Population

->

->

Increasing needs from elderly users

->

->

How do we empathize?

How to establish an engaging user research experience with senior people?

My team(AeX) collaborates with the UK National Innovation Centre Ageing (NICA) to develop a platform based on WeChard named "集思社 / Insight Hub".

Insight Hub is a reciprocal feedback collection system for elderly users by involving them into tailored daily activities and complete simple tasks alongside to collect useful data for the innovation in global aging products and services.

My team(AeX) collaborates with the UK National Innovation Centre Ageing (NICA) to develop a platform based on WeChard named "集思社 / Insight Hub".

Insight Hub is a reciprocal feedback collection system for elderly users by involving them into tailored daily activities and complete simple tasks alongside to collect useful data for the innovation in global aging products and services.

Direction

The AeX team invited 10 senior participants aged 60+ to the Future Lab. Each of the participant was paired with a designer, which is also my position.



RESEARCH GOAL

-> Examine the usability of Insight Hub by implementing touchpoints specifically designed for elderly for better engagement and participation.

MY ROLE

-> Establish the UI wireframes for handouts


-> Refine and update prototype in Figma


-> Lead a senior user through the workshop


Methodology

The research contains four main phases:

The research contains four main phases:

01

Contextual

Interview

->

02

Usability

Testing

->

03

Co-creation

Workshop

->

04

Feedbacks

& Review

01

Contextual

Interview

->

02

Usability

Testing

->

03

Co-creation

Workshop

->

04

Feedbacks

& Review

01

Contextual

Interview

->

02

Usability

Testing

->

03

Co-creation

Workshop

->

04

Feedbacks

& Review

01

Interview & Idea Visualization


  • Greetings + Conduct interviews about their personal backgrounds life styles


  • Present synthesized responses with Post-it notes

02

Usability Testing


  • "Think Aloud" — user needs to describe their interactions with the screen elements in the flow


  • Diary study - Real-time observation on every detail of their reactions.

03

Participatory Workshop


Co-creation map

  • What I SEE?

  • What I could DO?

  • What I THINK?

  • Painpoints & Gains

04

Feedbacks & Review


  • SUS(System Usability Scale) & UEQ (User Experience Questionnaire)

  • Reflect on feedbacks and find patterns in quantified data collection

My Learning

The globally aging population underscores the significance of elderly-focused design.

Our team employed various methods to facilitate collaboration between seniors and young designers.

My experience at the Future Lab AeX emphasized on the value of Human-Centered Designto empower every participant and stakeholder in product development to articulate their vision.