Everyday Design 2：Design Caring

There are people of different ages and abilities in a society, and they all have their own different needs. Barrier-free design can take care of the daily needs of people with disabilities. An inclusive design can cater for a small number of people, and at the same time be suitable for all people. How do designers come up with thoughtful designs out of empathy?

Designer Kevin WONG said, “The revolutionary idea of a smart phone without a screen does not just cater for blind people, a good design should be able to be enjoyed by all people.”

As such, WONG and his team developed a voice intelligent ring, which was a brand new concept. The original intention of the design is to enable his dad, who is blind, to use smartphones. How can designers make communication more barrier-free through technology?

Architect Raymond LEUNG said, “No matter it is a product or an architectural design, it must be unique, functional, and inclusive as well.”

Raymond LEUNG is the third-generation heir of a vacuum bottle brand and the architect, who is responsible for transforming the factory building that produced vacuum bottles into a hotel. While retaining the style of industrial architecture, how can he integrate barrier-free facilities into the environment in a natural way?

Mr. Leung Chu-hei, the Superintendent of a care and attention home for the aged, said, Regarding the design of various services in the daily living of elderly in nursing homes, our philosophy is to let them live their lives as before they were admitted to the nursing home.”

He and the nursing home team engaged design thinking and creativity in formulating the daily life schedule, activities and diet of the elderly, resulting in the lives of the elderly having small but wonderful changes.

CHAN Wing-lam, the designer of activity pavilion, said, “A good design can make its users feel satisfied and being taken care of.”

In order to encourage the elderly to do more exercises, CHAN and her design team have produced several types of multi-functional recreational activity pavilions, which combine training and exercise elements to intergenerational facilities.

How can these people-oriented designs make the users feel being cared for and taken care of?

Producer: Lun Pui-ki