Skip Generation

Opportunity
The problem of China’s ageing society is becoming more and more serious. 
Old people who do not live with their children feel lonely and nostalgic.
In addition, young people under heavy work pressure and find it challenging to balance their families.
Last but not least, respecting the old, treating them with filial respect, and caring for the young are some of the most important traditional Chinese cultural virtues, young people feel morally guilty about it when they cannot do well.
How might we design a service to help older people live a dignified old age while relieving young people of family pressures and moral guilt?
 
Solution
Through research, I found that the values that the elderly provide matched the needs that children called for. Through the community, the elderly and children from different families can be connected. They can accompany, educate and entertain each other. In addition, the community provides them with services for daily life and health management.
 
Impact
Connecting older people and children through the community can improve the quality of life for old people in their later years, while also offering educational and recreational services for children. It also enhances the well-being of young people and thus boosts the birth rate. Moreover, it can deepen the emotional ties between three generations, enable them to understand each other better, and improve their sense of family well-being. Last but not least, create a more harmonious, resilient community and society by linking people through the community.
 
Location
Shanghai, China
Timeline

Dec. 2020-Jan. 2021

Individual
Context
Personal Pressure
Family planning policies have led to changes in family structure, leading to enormous pressure on young millennials to support their families. At the same time, they find it difficult to balance family and work due to the enormous competitive pressure of work. In particular, giving birth requires sacrificing the quality of life of the elderly or one of the spouses to take care of the child wholeheartedly, intensifying family conflicts and discouraging more young people from giving birth.
 
Social Pressure
In the future, China will face a serious problem of an ageing society, which is a huge challenge, so we must take action from now on.
Economic Pressure
Older people’s pensions rely on the pension insurance paid by the young to keep the finances in balance. However, as the birth rate has been declining and ageing is severe, the problem of the government’s pension deficit is gradually emerging.
CONTEXT的副本-scaled-e1671306957526.jpg
Research
To understand the needs and values of different generations, I conducted cultural probe studies of 5 families for one week. The elderly recorded their activities and moods. The couples recorded their activities and moods when interacting with the elderly and their children. Following-up interviews were conducted afterwards to gain deep thoughts and insights.

Cutural Probes & Interviews

Analysis

When talking to young couples, it is obvious that the needs of children are also very important. I got opportunities after getting insights from the old and children based on their desires, frustrations and value propositions.
Define

Personas

Based on the research findings, I have created two typical personas of the elderly and children. The crucial insight is that the value that older people provide can match children’s needs. And vice versa.
How might we
provide a service that connects the elderly and children to make them have a more fulfilling life,
promote family harmony and spread the traditional culture and virtues of the Chinese people?
 
Ideation
Through brainstorming and research,  the community is a tie that can connect old people and children from different families. Then, I visited ten communities in different cities to record the activities of people in public areas and the current situation of the community centres. I also interviewed the community’s staff.
Many community centres are in ruins or are used as courier stations. This is also an opportunity to reduce the waste of social resources. At the same time, how to keep the operation is also a major challenge.
Deliver

This community

connect the elderly and children in need of companionship.

 

Older people can live fulfilling lives 

by exchanging skills and participating in activities

through the company of children

to make up for the loneliness of the soul.

 

Children 

can receive an education different from in-school 

and growing company

from the elderly’s unique life experiences.

Service Map

The elderly can choose to do whatever they want while receiving life and health support and enjoying the tranquillity of their old age.
Children can be looked after well. Moreover, they can entertain while receiving companionship and an intangible education they cannot even learn in school. They are able to enjoy an enriching childhood. It will make up for their parents’ absence due to busy schedules and relieve parents’ stress.

Senario 1---- Join in and assess

Senario 2----Education and activities

Reflection
The problem of social isolation
In the contemporary era of urbanisation, many people have lived in the same building for many years and they even may not know each other. Usually, they face loneliness when at home alone. So, if we make full use of community centres to provide social activities and space, it could promote human interaction. However, interpersonal relationships are complex, and it is necessary to control social details and avoid conflicts, trying to promote harmony in community development.
 
 
Social practice activities in collaboration with universities
Students from different fields, like medicine, cooking, psychology, education, sports, art, etc., can carry out social practice activities during the summer and winter holidays, which can enhance their professional knowledge, expand their networks and integrate more quickly into society. Furthermore, the community can also relieve the pressure on the staff during the time and enrich the vitality of the community. If I were to redo the project, I would try to establish a collaboration between the community and universities.
 
Create collaboration with real estate companies and property companies
In China, many sales centres are transformed into community centres after selling out, but many of the lower and mid-range community centres are often left in ruins and unattended. Some of these are due to poor space and function design, resulting in a poor user experience at a later stage. Others are due to the lack of funding to maintain operations. So, to make use of instruction resources, it is essential for architecture companies to not just think about the aesthetic designs but also functions and usage needs during different periods in advance.

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