How can you design sustainable solutions for people of all ages and life stages?

Following a participatory design approach can bridge the gap between users and designers to promote inclusion and positive change. Sustainable design prioritises resilience and adaptability, and co-design methods can help achieve just that. It’s not just a design methodology, but has the potential to be a driver for social change. When people have a say in designing things that affect them, it brings them closer together. It makes them feel like they have the power to change things for the better. Co-design tools can be like a magic key in fostering tolerance, building trust and braking down barriers for sustainable change.

End user applications are superior to all others because they have a focused user group. Like the home for the elderly door handle designs by Alvar Alto. This was a pivotal design element and revolutionized the world of design as we know it. Later it would be the most popular shape due to the growth of accessibility standards. You can also see similar examples through industrial design. The scissors changed when they became ergonomic and specific to the hand that held them. Minor adjustments make big impacts. It is when we think of specific use cases that design is elevated.

We do collaborative discussions with designers, using a matrix exercise (built in-house). We align business and marketing goals with user objectives, and the design team addresses gaps through research. This model proves effective as it allows swift client review, where they fill the gaps based on a deeper understanding of the users.

Embracing universal design principles ensure that everyone, regardless of age, ability, or cultural background, can access and benefit from your solutions. To cite few examples, ramps instead of stairs, clear signage instead of cryptic symbols, and intuitive interfaces instead of tech jargon that are most widely used. Further these principles can be extended to accommodate flexibility for evolving needs. For example modular furniture that grows with a family and technologies catering to people with different physical abilities– these are the hallmarks of truly sustainable design.

Projetar solu??es sustentáveis para pessoas de todas as idades e fases da vida é tecer uma tape?aria de inova??o inclusiva.Desde a infancia até a terceira idade, cada estágio demanda considera??es únicas.Para os mais jovens, inspirar uma consciência ecológica desde cedo pode criar bases sólidas. No auge da vida adulta, promover práticas sustentáveis em ambientes de trabalho e estilo de vida torna-se vital. Na maturidade, adaptar solu??es que respeitem limita??es físicas e promovam um envelhecimento ativo é essencial. A chave reside na flexibilidade, na compreens?o das diferentes necessidades e na cria??o de solu??es que se adaptem harmoniosamente a cada fase, garantindo que a sustentabilidade seja um fio condutor para um futuro regenerativo

A mixed variety of inhabitants isn't always the best. Elderly people can be more secure if they live in a elderly community where they know the neighbors are looking after the curtain is redrawed in the morning. So they know they will be looked after if something is wrong. People with kids will find it nice if there own kids have some one around them in the same age to play with.

Je regrette que l'espace public, sous couvert de chercher l'accessibilité, génère souvent des espaces mal adaptés, car figés. L'être humain est multiple, célébrons plut?t la diversité par des principes modulables dans ses 3 dimensions ! La prise électrique préhensible par une personne en fauteuil sera difficile d'accès pour l'usager souffrant du dos, où celui qui dépasse les 2m... Trouver des solutions architecturales qui sont pilotables, versatiles, pour que chacun ait accès au même équipement, est l'une des clés de vo?te d'une architecture qui rassemble !

La clave para la flexibilidad del espacio pensamos que tiene mas que ver con factores externos como: -Espacio de día y espacio de noche. -Orientación Norte, Sur, Este y Oeste -Espacios Servidores como Ba?o y cocina y espacios servidos como salón y habitaciones.

El Dise?o universal es básico para considerar una solución sostenible. Dentro del dise?o y planificación urbana es algo indispensable que cualquier ciudad debe adoptar, pues las medidas y pautas hacen que todos los ciudadanos disfruten plenamente de la ciudad. Algunas medidas son tan simples que es díficil entender por qué no se llevan a cabo: 1. Manejar cambio de pavimento para los cruces seguros. 2. Una se?alética adecuada, visible y entendible. 3. Semáforos peatonales con sonido. 4. Evitar el uso de escaleras que le dan prioridad al automóvil.

The first question is always, is it necessary? The next is how long have the design to be useful for its purpose. Many constructions are outdated after 30 years and are demolished. Others are able to last more than 200 years if they are done right and flexible. So the most important is to design so they are easy to downbuild and rebuild or at least recycle for use in a new way afterwards.

El análisis de ciclo de vida es vital para un desarrollo sostenible, puesto que no sólo se analiza cuando el producto es utilizado para lo que fue hecho: sino la forma de hacerse, el traslado que le ha llevado hasta su instalación y la forma adecuada y consciente de manejar sus residuos. Puede ser un objeto cotidiano que usas y deshechas comúnmente (como cualquier envase de producto de higiene) hasta el más grande edificio que conlleva que cada material con el que está hecho tenga un destino distinto. Como personas, proveedores y consumidores, tenemos que tener consciencia de qué recursos se utilizan para fabricar cualquier artículo y cómo será su eliminación cuando termine su vida útil. Reciclar siempre es la mejor opción.

It's just as well a question of we have to relearn the value of creating doesn't have to be exact as you wish so because example a kitchen isn't i the most new mode it still can fullfil it's purpose without being changed. So the design have to be timeless and well designed for the best working place.

Como actual alumna del Master de Dise?o Sostenible de Shifta by Elisava, considero que un dise?o antes de empezar siempre tiene que plantearse como un producto circular y adaptable a las necesidades del usuario. El usuario crece y va modificando sus necesidades, por ello es imprescindible pensar en un dise?o que pueda ser modular y vaya adaptándose a las diferentes situaciones que un mismo usuario puede ir sufriendo a lo largo de su vida. Con esto conseguimos alargar la vida util del producto.

Le réemploi et l'utilisation de matériaux locaux sont deux leviers à haut potentiel, facilement accessibles, souvent économiques, et préservant de manière générale la dimension patrimoniale de nos villes et villages. Une conception et une planification intelligentes, englobant les délais de récupération, l'optimisation de la ressource et les solutions de recyclage/réemploi des matériaux permettent un projet qui a une ame (valorisation du territoire, des spécificités locales), des valeurs, tout en se voulant qualitatif. A noter que ce principe vaut également avec les modes de chauffage/ventilation, les types de sol.

When working with groups of stakeholders, it's helpful to keep in mind that they are not sustainability experts or design professionals and you need to present and discuss any proposed project in terms that they understand and in a manner they can connect with. Presentation skills and flexibility are essential to building a relationship with stakeholders.

Los seres humanos vamos creciendo y al mismo tiempo teniendo diferentes necesidades, lo lógico entonces sería tener diferentes soluciones sostenibles para cada una de estas etapas. Poner atención a las necesidades y aportaciones de todas las partes interesadas en la solución que estamos dise?ando es crucial para lograr soluciones sostenibles en el tiempo.

En mi opinión todo se resume en una palabra: EMPATíA. Si los dise?adores y arquitectos pasáramos más tiempo poniéndonos en el lugar del otro, del usuario final o del usuario posible, resolveríamos el 99% de las dificultades que luego se presentan cuando el edificio o el espacio ya está construido. Hay que lograr el equilibrio entre la técnica y lo social, en una profesión cada vez más gobernada por máquinas, presupuestos, deadlines, etc.

Critical advice from someone who knows from experience what he describes! Connecting directly with the people you are speaking to means standing in their shoes, hearing what you are saying for the first time. Then they feel safe to ask their questions - safe to be a novice!

All stakeholders are eager to keep a low cost price to maximize the earning. So there have to be more focused and demands on lifetime economy when buildings are to be sold to other investors.

Continuous improvement means keeping the feedback loop always open. Be it a product or a process if it is monitored and evaluated closely with respect to the users needs the outcome can be sharpened. This helps in defining design solutions that exceed the stakeholders expectations. Allowing for dynamic and constantly evolving solutions in an ever so changing world. Be it a product or a process, both need to be SMART and need to have the ability to auto-adjust itself to the prevalent micro environment that they exist in.

A melhoria contínua é crucial ao projetar solu??es sustentáveis para pessoas de todas as idades, pois permite adapta??o constante às mudan?as na sociedade. Esse processo impulsiona eficiência, inova??o e inclusividade, assegurando que as solu??es atendam eficazmente às necessidades variadas das diferentes faixas etárias. Além disso, a busca por melhorias sustentáveis a longo prazo e o feedback iterativo contribuem para a promo??o da qualidade de vida, tornando as solu??es mais eficientes, eficazes e adaptadas às demandas em constante evolu??o assim como tudo no mundo!

There are many ways to facilitate continuous improvement with project teams and users like plus/delta, retrospectives, PDCA, surveys and evaluations... but in my experience, the hardest part is sharing lessons with others who could also benefit from not making the same mistake or reinventing the wheel. An information management issue to tackle internally and externally - any ideas? Be collectively intentional with the tactics selected, tools used to document, and frequency of reflection. If you don't have a system yet, experiment with different tactics and apply continuous improvement to your continuous improvement process too. How does, or might, your wokplace culture embody a continuous improvement mindset on projects and beyond?

The concept of Social security must also be put in place. The cost of running the building must be considered and how it affects all groups.

Concevoir des solutions durables pour les personnes de tous ages et de toutes étapes de la vie requiert une approche fondée sur l'empathie et la compréhension des besoins variés des utilisateurs. En travaillant sur divers projets, j'ai constaté l'importance de la recherche approfondie pour appréhender les défis spécifiques liés à chaque groupe démographique. La conception universelle s'est avérée être une approche primordiale, visant à créer des solutions flexibles capables de s'adapter aux évolutions des besoins tout au long de la vie.

é importante acrescentar que considerar o contexto local é uma extens?o vital da abordagem de melhoria contínua ao projetar solu??es para pessoas de todas as idades. A diversidade cultural, econ?mica e ambiental de cada localidade influencia significativamente as necessidades e preferências das comunidades. 1. Culturalmente Sensível. 2. Economicamente viável. 3. Ambientalmente Sustentável. 4. Infraestrutura Existente. 5. Participa??o Comunitária. 6. Flexibilidade no Design. 7. Respeito pela Diversidade.