Designing for wellbeing
Designing for wellbeing
Designing for wellbeing
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These three examples of framing the design problem illustrate the<br />
versatility of the overall topic and the diverse approaches that one can<br />
take. In the beginning there are no right or wrong questions or answers,<br />
just different sides and emphases. The understanding, issues raised and<br />
ideas should be seen as an ongoing reframing of the problem rather than<br />
as purely solutions. Based on the project, the people who are responsible<br />
<strong>for</strong> developing public services in Kauniainen and Villa Breda can rethink<br />
what the aim of their services actually is and how they can achieve it.<br />
However, continuous reframing of the problem is a fuzzy and sometimes<br />
uncom<strong>for</strong>table process. The process leads gradually towards a solution<br />
that can be hard to <strong>for</strong>esee be<strong>for</strong>ehand. Furthermore, <strong>for</strong> the participants,<br />
the solution may look evident in the end but hard to justify to outsiders.<br />
Concept design as a decision-making tool: different foci <strong>for</strong> <strong>wellbeing</strong><br />
We considered co-design a feasible strategy <strong>for</strong> producing diverse design<br />
concepts that can stimulate discussion about alternative foci of future<br />
public services in Kauniainen. Altogether 13 concepts were created and<br />
presented to the city representatives. The concept proposals can be seen<br />
as rethinking and decision-making tools <strong>for</strong> the city management by concretising<br />
different service ideas. Some of them point out incremental<br />
improvements <strong>for</strong> the current services, whereas some are more radical<br />
and demand rethinking the way things are organised today.<br />
For example, the Ajo concept shows how the current transportation services<br />
have good elements, but as such do not meet all the seniors’ requirements.<br />
To support the freedom of choice about when and how they leave<br />
home, the students developed the existing services with two key actors: the<br />
driver and the walker/walking buddy. Based on the need and the mood, a<br />
senior can order one or the other. The concept underlines the mental and<br />
physical dimensions of <strong>wellbeing</strong> and links them by encouraging seniors to<br />
walk and run their errands as usual. The walker not only accompanies the<br />
elderly person to her art class, but they share stories during the walk as well.<br />
65 · Co-design with the public sector