Designing for wellbeing

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