Discover
Identify: The initial problem identified was the need to improve the quality of life for elderly individuals in nursing
homes by introducing play and interactive activities. This was motivated by the experiences of visiting nursing
homes to see elderly loved ones.
Research: Research included observations in nursing homes, discussions with caregivers, interviews with residents,
and studying the work of professionals like Joël Kruisselbrink, who specialized in engaging elderly individuals in
physical activities.
Understand: The research phase helped develop a deep understanding of the challenges and constraints faced
by elderly residents, including physical limitations and a lack of engaging activities.
Define
How might we create a framework for designing games that can be used to engage and have fun with the elderly? How might we teach people to make and design games? How might we get 'Joel' into all nursing homes?
Questions I asked myself
Am I creating a toolkit for making games?
Am I providing user education on creating games that benefit elderly users?
Develop
It worked! People can design games with a game design framework and a box of objects and toys infront of them but now... I needed to learn about physical and cognitive challenges residents may face
(they are the users who will be playing the games)
This time, I entered the age simulation kit to understand residents' physical and sensory challenges. We randomly chose "hearing impairment" to explore how to explain games to hearing-impaired residents.
I gained firsthand insight into the impact of hearing impairment and impaired vision, highlighting the importance of considering these factors when designing games for older adults.
I was eager to test the mini games with my grandmother to gauge her response and hear her feedback.
As a designer, understanding emotional responses is crucial in the creative process. 😄
For the first game, we used a piece of cardboard with 3 holes, and the objective was to balance a ball and get it into one of the holes.
The second game was a simple concept where we used a balloon as a ball and two plastic plates as 'tennis rackets.' We had a blast passing the balloon back and forth, trying to keep it from hitting the ground
My grandmother loved it, and she even said, 'it stimulated my brain and got me moving. These games likely provided several benefits for my grandmother such as physical activity, mental stimulation, and social interaction.
Most importantly, both of these simple games brought so much joy to my grandmother and myself
Reflecting & Decision Making
I pondered my testing sessions, where participants engaged playing and desiging games within a controlled environment using a pre-made toolbox. While the idea of creating a physical toolbox for nursing homes initially appealed to me, my commitment to accessibility led me in a different direction.
Why did I choose a digital app?
Because it's scalable, easily updatable, and offers a wider variety of games. Most importantly, it's accessible to a broader audience.
