EXEL - Design for and with the Community

By Juanjuan ‘June’ He

How do you design a product for an end user who is nothing like you — who comes from a radically different generation, culture and way of life? Answer: Design with the user.

In a course titled “Aging & Design,” Assistant Professor June He built a field-based, co-design curriculum that encouraged students to study end users who are unlike themselves, in a setting that fosters relationships, empathy and participation. “Co-design” is a format that involves all stakeholders, ensuring the result meets their needs.

In this case, the students were partnered with older adult members of the Philadelphia Asian community.