2023 - Aging, Design & Entrepreneurship
In 2023, the course evolved into Aging, Design & Entrepreneurship, expanding the original community-based design framework by integrating entrepreneurship and innovation. The course continued its collaboration with older adults in Philadelphia, but added new interdisciplinary perspectives from nursing, health sciences, and entrepreneurship.
Students learned about aging processes, ageism, and user-centered design while also exploring how design ideas could become viable products or services. Through co-create and co-design workshops with older adults at community centers, students gathered insights, tested early ideas, and refined their concepts. The course emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration, real-world problem solving, and entrepreneurial thinking, encouraging students to consider both the social impact and practical implementation of their designs.
Outcome
The outcomes of the 2023 course reflected a stronger focus on innovation and real-world application. Student teams developed prototypes and design concepts aimed at improving everyday experiences for older adults, including a health literacy supplement dispenser, an organizational tool called Sync Organiser, an activity booklet designed to encourage social connection, and a food pantry planning system. Students documented their process through research posters, process books, and presentations that traced their work from initial interviews with older adults to iterative prototyping and final design proposals. The projects culminated in a public exhibition and final pitch event where teams presented their ideas to faculty, experts, and community members, demonstrating both the design thinking and entrepreneurial potential of their solutions.
“The collaborative synergy within the team was undoubtedly the highlight of my journey. The enjoyment stemmed from witnessing the collective creativity where all our ideas sparked and illuminated like a chain reaction. The joy of brainstorming, prototyping, and collectively envisioning a future where aging is met with innovation was not just satisfying but deeply fulfilling”
“This class was awesome! I just loved this class. It was definitely out of my comfort zone, but in a good way... I loved that Professor He was insanely supportive ofeach group in whatever endeavor they genuinely believed would help our older friends. She gave great, gentle guidance to ensure our projects stayed on task and completed in a way that is realistic and effective. I felt very supported by my teammates and am so proud of what we’ve accomplished”
Interested in registering for the Aging & Design course series, being a faculty/community collaborator, or getting involved with the Empathic CoDesign Lab?
Contact Professor June He at jh3943@drexel.edu