Designing for an Ageing Society
Clients: Tryg Fonden & INDEX
TrygFonden works to create a more comfortable life for all in Denmark. It strives to be the most professional and respected promoter to security-building activities in this country – the place where families, businesses and public bodies naturally turn for knowledge of and support to increase security in society.
INDEX aims to inspire design worldwide, responding to the needs of people in societies, both developed and developing. With a wide global network called the Pioneers of Change set across multiple disciplines, they use three main tools to reach their objectives: large scale public events, educational & informative programmes, and communication & outreach.
Trygfonden and INDEX asked CIID gain an understand of the ageing society in a global sense. CIID set out on a worldwide study covering 9 different countries: Denmark, UK, USA, Italy, India, South Africa, China, Israel and Colombia.
Acknowledging the significance of ageing society and the related challenges to worldwide welfare, CIID set out to investigate the lives of elderly people to provide a new understanding of old age as inspiration for new design solutions. Our research challenged preconceptions about old people and shifted the focus of design thinking from being a facilitator of special aids and appliances to seeking opportunities in the socio-economic and macro perspective.
The findings reveal distinct trends in the area of secondary occupations, connectivity, dignity and the way time and space is perceived amongst the elderly.
We composed two sets of research:
Informed Anecdotes I: Insight into an Ageing Society
Informed Anecdotes I puts the findings in context with the person and the possible solutions that apply to individuals.
Informed Anecdotes II: Design for an Ageing Society
Informed Anecdotes II puts the research and findings into perspective of societies and solutions that address the bigger picture.
Both of the papers can be viewed here – along with other INDEX material:
