"Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength." — Betty Friedan

Across the world, populations are aging at an unprecedented rate. As life expectancy increases, so does our responsibility to ensure dignity, inclusion, and quality of life for older adults. Yet, too often, aging is met with neglect, inaccessibility, or invisibility—both socially and spatially.

In this two-week studio, students will embark on an empathy-driven design journey to better understand and serve the needs of the elderly. Grounded in user-centered design methodologies, students will explore the lived experiences of aging through research, interviews, and community engagement.

We will investigate how different we might perceive and interact with older adults, and identify opportunities for meaningful design interventions that prioritize care, dignity, and empowerment. Students will be challenged to design solutions that respond to the real-world needs in your community, desires, and challenges of elders—whether through physical products, spatial experiences, or services that enhance daily life.

This studio is not just about designing for the elderly—it's about designing with them. Through this process, students will learn how to center empathy, respect, and active listening in every stage of design.

"Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength." Betty Friedan (1921-2006)

The world's older population is growing dramatically. 

As a society, there are many ways to demonstrate how we take care of our aging population. In most cases, programs such as healthcare and special assistance are provided to enhance the quality of life and well-being of senior citizens- however that is not always the case. In this studio, students will have the opportunity to create something special for the aging community.

We will take a deep dive into understanding the daily life and hurdles of the aging population and how societies perceive and interact with the elderly in their community. Through research and interviews, we will learn about encounters and issues that result from aging.