2024 - Aging, Design & Healing
In 2024, the course further evolved into Aging, Design & Healing, expanding the focus from design and entrepreneurship to include health, wellbeing, and healing practices. The course introduced students to empathic design in the context of aging, public health, and therapeutic approaches.
Through seminars, discussions, hands-on experiments, and guest lectures from experts in fields such as design, nursing, healthcare, and art therapy, students explored how cultural awareness, healthcare knowledge, and inclusive design principles can shape more meaningful solutions for older adults. The class continued to emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration and encouraged students to examine how design can support dignity, accessibility, and emotional wellbeing in aging populations.
Outcome
The outcomes of the 2024 course were reflected in a variety of conceptual projects and prototypes that addressed the social, emotional, and physical needs of older adults. Student teams developed ideas such as interactive tools to support hand strength combined with digital companionship systems, communication devices that connect family members across distance, portable kitchen tools designed for accessibility, and community-oriented food exchange programs. Throughout the process, students documented their work through posters, design concepts, and iterative prototypes that demonstrated their research, empathy-building activities, and collaborative ideation. These projects were presented at a final exhibition and critique, showcasing how students translated interdisciplinary knowledge and empathic understanding into thoughtful design solutions.
““I found this course to be incredibly eye-opening in a myriad of ways. Each week, there was a unique and oftentimes highly interactive experience presented that encouraged us to leave our comfort zones... My perception has undoubtedly
changed regarding aging... My perception on design has also developed rapidly throughout the term... I believe the class was excellently managed by Professor He! Thank you for an unforgettable term”
“I could have never expected that a single 11 week class that seemed to have little to nothing to do with my major could have such an influence on how I will view and work with older adults in both my profession and daily life.”
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