Conference Agenda

This paper explores definitions of Design for Longevity (D4L) through a preliminary literature review to create an interpretation of D4L in the finance and service context. The concept of longevity has been applied to many industries and applications. this paper reviews the term D4L as it applies to three fields: product lifecycle, financial planning, and gerontology. Using specific keywords across three search engines—Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Design Research Society Digital Library—we gathered 78 academic papers and synthesized 24 academic papers. As a result, we proposed a holistic and interdisciplinary definition of D4L as a lens to identify longevity-related design opportunities, and to envision products, services, and experiences that allow people to thrive across their entire lifespan in the context of transforming age demographics. A more accurate understanding of D4L can enhance longevity-literacy, -management, and -strategy to improve quality of life.

Assisting our communities with design for longevity through creating opportunities to age in place requires multiple resources. Aging and longevity are essential emerging factors for many urban neighborhoods. In partnership with the Drexel University Writers Room and Second Story Collective, the Drexel Design Research for Health Lab is creating an innovative concept space and tool for inter-generational creativity through storytelling and artmaking. The interdisciplinary members of the project are developing a series of evidence-based urban spaces around Aging-in-Place. The group has received funding to conduct an age-friendly observational study of the central location for community writing activities. The current goal of this project is to develop a model for implementing age-friendly retrofits. This paper will describe the participatory work to date and the formulation of an initial measure as a part of the changing ways we see our creative community spaces.

Intelligent communities can nurture environments conducive to fostering positive and meaningful relationships among the elderly. This systematic literature review examines the role of these communities in the aging population’s social relations. Through the review of studies and interventions via the Scopus database, we investigate how some innovative approaches are positively impacting the quality of life for the elderly. We identified examples of initiatives, technological solutions, and a social project successfully implemented in communities to strengthen older adult support networks. The contributions of this article lie in providing a comprehensive view of how smart technologies are shaping support for the senior population with a potential to enhance their emotional health. Additionally, it reflects on potential approaches to promote the well-being of the elderly through design. This article offers insights for professionals and researchers interested in innovating to promote active aging.

As the population of older adults increases, so does the demand for technology that supports caregiving and aging in place. Smart home technology, wearable health trackers, and mobile applications have all been identified as possible methods of support. Studies on the user interfaces of these technologies have predominantly explored how well their features and functions address the complex needs of older adults and caregivers. However, many of these applications lack adequate consideration of visual design principles and aesthetics. The present study aims to illustrate the iterative design process of the LifeTomorrow Ecosystem which includes two applications: one for caregivers and one for older adult care recipients. The results include high-fidelity screens from the applications that incorporate functional and visual design principles, as well as the feedback of older adults, caregivers, and designers. Finally, we provide recommendations for designers to consider when designing applications targeted at older adults and their caregivers.