Why Human Centered Design Matters for Aging in the City
Aging is more than a change in the body. It is a lived experience shaped by our surroundings, our relationships, and the routines we keep. In cities, older adults move through complex systems like transportation, housing, health care, social spaces, and technology. Human centered design puts their voices, needs, and hopes at the heart of the process. By taking the time to understand their daily lives — from the difficulty of stepping off a curb to the joy of walking to a neighborhood market — we can create products, services, and places that support dignity, independence, and a sense of belonging. This approach helps us move past assumptions so that our solutions truly fit the people they are meant for.

For this activity, each group will receive a User Persona and a Routine Card, along with a worksheet. The worksheet will guide you through your first step in designing for user needs and questioning your own assumptions.