Workshop “Product Design for Elderly” in China: Design Education and Experience

The summer workshop is held in Beijing, China from 15th of July to 3rd of August 2013 with 32 participants from five different Universities in Beijing. The objectives are getting experienced and educated in product design for elderly during three weeks. Realistic design problems are presented by a Chinese white good company. They expect that the eight product teams will come up with one each product designs. The context of the product design cannot neglect the elderly with their physical fitness and mental constitution. However, a grey movement is going on over the whole world. That is the baby boomers in Europe, one child policy in China and changing family care in India. But the elderly have the money for holding the physical fitness and mental constitution. Gathering visual design information can be established through hand sketching, photographing, filming and writing. The design teams have made effective use of this information. The abundant visual design information should be structured or ordered. The result of the structuring serves as input of the design brief. Walking design is one of the observation methods that visual design information is capturing with a camera. An aimed walk may observe the design problem or the need of comfort in the available design space. Design competence can be taught with great dedication and enthusiasm for the design profession by practicing knowledge, skill, design, experience and communication. Eight product designs are designed by eight product teams. It is a marvellous result and a tremendous design experience for all workshop participants.