Do not design "special products"

Do not design "special products"

I really like this RSA commentary which gives guidelines for designing for the elderly:

"1. Do not design 'special' products for elderly people.

2. The conventional approach to design through style or materials is obsolete.

3. Physical independence is the treasure. Design should encourage the body to work in a healthy way.

4. Find the balance between under-support and over-support.

5. Understanding good body use (what we should do) is far more important than data on what we can do'.

I think it's important for designers to realize that hand holding will get you nowhere with the elderly. They have literally "been there, done that" and we should design for their needs in a way that does not talk down to them or make them feel insignificant or that they are behind, especially when dealing with technology.

Humanity and a user-centered approach are essential tools when designing for the needs of that specific target group as it is now no longer acceptable to design from up on high, basing one's self on empirical data: "Ergonomic data may depict an articulated dummy to show what the body is capable of reaching. It is not part of design or ergonomic education to know whether such actions are healthy or natural. Elderly people may be able to reach a certain height, but should they?" A good read for product designers everywhere

Source  www.designcouncil.org.uk/mt/red/   Alexandra Sonsino