Abstract
The sustainable development of an ageing society necessitates active participation of older people, requiring effective integration of their individual and collective resources into design. However, designers’ understanding of older people’s resources is rather limited. This study aims to develop a conceptual model of older people’s resources to support design for healthy ageing. Through literature review and interviews with 19 recently retired Dutch seniors, twelve resource types were identified, categorised into six dimensions: practical, emotional, intellectual, social, cultural, and time. These categories were synthesised into a Diamond Model of Resources. The framework, encompassing both resource categories and the Diamond Model, was applied in a design workshop. Results demonstrated that the resource-based mindset and knowledge significantly influenced design outcomes, enabling designers to develop solutions that promote active participation among older people. The study has led to a toolkit for empowering healthy ageing, showcased in the “Design for all” exhibition in Zurich.
Keywords
Healthy ageing, resource, social innovation, inclusive design
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.2688
Citation
Dong, Y., Dong, H., Wang, T., and Goossens, R.H. (2026) Design for Healthy Ageing: Developing and Applying a Resource Model, in Simeone, L., Gray, C. M., Verhoeven, A., de Götzen, A., Bakırlıoğlu, Y., Zohar, H., Stead, M., and Buwert, P. (eds.), DRS2026: Edinburgh, 8–12 June, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.2688
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Included in
Design for Healthy Ageing: Developing and Applying a Resource Model
The sustainable development of an ageing society necessitates active participation of older people, requiring effective integration of their individual and collective resources into design. However, designers’ understanding of older people’s resources is rather limited. This study aims to develop a conceptual model of older people’s resources to support design for healthy ageing. Through literature review and interviews with 19 recently retired Dutch seniors, twelve resource types were identified, categorised into six dimensions: practical, emotional, intellectual, social, cultural, and time. These categories were synthesised into a Diamond Model of Resources. The framework, encompassing both resource categories and the Diamond Model, was applied in a design workshop. Results demonstrated that the resource-based mindset and knowledge significantly influenced design outcomes, enabling designers to develop solutions that promote active participation among older people. The study has led to a toolkit for empowering healthy ageing, showcased in the “Design for all” exhibition in Zurich.