Indonesian Elders in Assisted Living: A Design Journey

Abstract

This paper describes a design journey that began with a cultural probe exploration of the lived experiences of residents of a home for elderly women in Jogjakarta, Indonesia. The paper describes how requirements for a tangible experience installation were brought together and how an initial design concept was imagined. Having bought into a technology solution, the design team encountered problems that lead to some conflict that stalled the project. With the passage of time, the teams were able to come to a new solution. This paper reflects on the journey and offers some insights for others working in similar situations.