Older Adult Insights for Age Friendly Environments, Products and Service Systems - study paper - co-design symposium results

Oct 15, 2026

Older adult living environments are treated as adaptive systems addressing changing physical, sensory and mental limitations. A coalition between academic institutions and ISAX (Ireland Smart Ageing Exchange) used participatory co-design to raise awareness of needs for age-friendly environments and to support innovation in local and state business and policy. A five-week design and ethnographic study with 22 participants identified mobility, public space, safety, social engagement, and services and facilities needs through cultural probes, interviews, and observation. Findings were presented at a June 2016 symposium to drive policy discussion and access-area development around Limerick City.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages21

Reading Time53 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Coalition and Study Design

Design and ethnographic methods

Participant themes and unmet needs

Co-Design Symposium and Outcomes

Older Adult Insights for Age Friendly Environments, Products and Service Systems Linda SHORE, University of Limerick, Ireland Louise KIERNAN, University of Limerick, Ireland Adam de EYTO, University of Limerick, Ireland Deirbhile Nic A BHAIRD, University of Limerick, Ireland Anne CONNOLLY, ISAX, Ireland Smart Ageing Exchange, Ireland P J WHITE, Institute of Technology Carlow, Ireland Tracy FAHEY, Limerick School of Art & Design Siobhan MOANE, Limerick Institute of Technology, Ireland Abstract The environments we grow old in present a challenge to be adaptive to our changing needs and limitations. Environments, in the context of this paper, are the spaces, products and product service systems that we engage with, alone or with others, within and outside the home. A design coalition (Manzini, 2015) was generated between a number of academic Institutions and ISAX (Ireland Smart Ageing Exchange) an ‘ageing think tank’ organisation in Ireland. The intention of this coalition was to generate awareness of needs requirements for age friendly environments and to provide an example of how participatory design research can inform innovation in business and policy development at a local and state level. A five-week study was conducted using design and ethnographic methods with twenty-two older adult participants (age range 69 – 80) . The themes of study were identified as: mobility, public spaces, safety, social engagement, services & facilities. Cultural probes, semi-structured interviewsand user observation, by both researchers and older adult participants, were used as methods to identify the unmet needs of participants within the sample group. A Co-Design Symposium ([http://info.isax.ie/national-co-design-symposium](http://info.isax.ie/national-co-design-symposium)) was held during June 2016 as an opportunity to demonstrate to a wider stakeholder audience the needs identified from this study. This Symposium was attended by over 100 people of various backgrounds (town planners, architects, transport experts, retailers, builders, health and other service providers) . The older adult participants and designers (staff and researchers from the School of Design at the University of Limerick, IT Carlow, Limerick Institute of Technology and Limerick School of Art & Design) were placed within teams of ten. The research was presented using audio/visual presentation as well as artefacts from the fieldwork, completed diaries, scrapbooks, storyboards etc. Solutions were worked on, and delivered at the end of the day. This Symposium has impacted positively whereby policy makers in local government have invited ISAX to further discuss research outcomes and the needs of older adults as a means to develop access areas in and around Limerick City. This paper outlines in further detail the design research methods used, and the benefits through design education Student/ Researcher /Stakeholder collaboration by application ‘in the‘field’ and displays the effectiveness of design coalitions in influencing and affecting change and insight into policy. It highlights how co-design collaborations can impact and generate design solutions that improve day to day experiences. 1: Introduction There are a number of age specific agencies focusing on the needs identification and mobilization of the older adults’ voice as a means to influence and deliver product and service systems that benefit all. One such agency is ISAX (the Ireland Smart Ageing Exchange) . As a result of a rapidly growing ageing population and an increase in longevity, everyone who lives long enough will experience a disability, or a gradual decline in physical, sensory or mental abilities (Morris, Mueller & Jones, 2010). The ageing population is a design concern that requires ensuring that design in industry, and higher-level design education, generate awareness by engaging with older adults using participatory or co-design methods. As design becomes more embedded in

FAQs

What problem does the paper address about older adults?

It addresses how the environments people grow old in must be adaptive to changing needs and limitations, focusing on spaces, products, and product-service systems.

How were the older adults’ unmet needs identified?

The study used cultural probes, semi-structured interviews, and user observation by both researchers and older adult participants.

What happened after the co-design symposium in June 2016?

The symposium influenced follow-up engagement, with local government policy makers inviting ISAX to discuss research outcomes and older adults’ needs to develop access areas around Limerick City.

Oct 15, 2026

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