Looking at products that have been designed to step away from stereotypical aesthetics associated with older people was really intriguing and insightful. From tablets to ‘sports’ which you can see below, specialist brands are proving that products for older people don’t have to look dated and dull.
Traditionally products aimed at older consumers have been restricted to items targeting health or mobility, usually sold through specialist stores or advertised in Sunday supplements next to spreads promoting bed sheets and chinos. But as Ive discovered the population is getting older, and the older are getting richer, so there’s a growing market for well made, everyday objects that take into account how our shopping needs might change as we age.
When I think of products designed for older people, I think of a stairlift, a remote with giant buttons, a reclining armchair, and probably all beige. And as I found their are a number of reasons why products that are aimed at older people have traditionally been hard to find, dated or just ugly. For a start, items aimed at people with health or mobility issues are often prescribed by local authorities and the NHS, meaning users are less demanding. So for example they cant complain at the design of something if they haven't paid for it.
It also means less incentive for companies to invest in innovative products: traditionally, over 65s have been seen as having less disposable income, but with 79% of the UK’s wealth now attributed to the over 50s, it’s becoming a lucrative market. Older consumers’ needs might change, but it doesn’t mean they stop caring about how things look or work, and I found one shop called Spring Chicken who have stock that is proof we are beginning to see more stylish alternatives to the traditional fare associated with products for older people.
I found areas which are developing for old people such as technology with larger buttons, bigger screens and text sizes but one area that is lagging for old people is the home. There are some innovative companies helping as I found the with Amazon, but there’s still huge work to be done with nicely designed and affordable multi use furniture and objects for older peoples home hard to come by.
Other examples of products
PriestmanGoode has rethinked mobility in old age with a range of products to accompany elderly people through life and develop as their mobility needs evolve. The Scooter for Life was a special commission for the New Old exhibition at the Design Museum in London, and is a full scale prototype designed to provide users with more independence through greater mobility.
I personally think the scooter is great and believe a younger audience would be interested in this but to focus more on the benefits it has for old people. It offers independence through mobility as it aims to counter loneliness and isolation within the elderly community. Its also looks easy to manoeuvre, as the scooter can be taken into shops, on public transport and into the home. As well as it easily manoeuvring it is easy to use, as its a multifunctional product with a large front basket that functions as a shopping trolley. The design looks safe and stable as it only moves when you release the brakes making this a safe option for elderly people.
I found a really simple but cool project by Special Projects who are a studio based in London. A number of years ago, they helped Samsung explore new ways of making smartphones easier to use for older adults. And the research they undertook for this project was essential to making this work as they spent months connecting with older adults around Europe. This meant going to bingo clubs and spending days in people’s homes talking about their approach to technology. It was really eye-opening for them as they realised how stigmatising and frustrating some of the technology aimed at older adults can be.
The response was a whole new way of learning and how to use smartphones based around familiar models such as a book. I love this project because the end result is clear and functional but also really clever and inspiring, because it actively changes problems old people have with technology.
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