Overview

We are entering the Century of Longevity. Longer lives are a demographic reality that represents one defining design challenge of our time. Design for Longevity (D4L) reimagines how we design products, services, and cities for a world where life stages are longer and increasingly interconnected. Unlike design approaches centered on linearity (efficiency-driven) or circularity (resource-driven), D4L places the evolving human life journey at its core, considering how people, communities, and systems adapt across generations. This course explores D4L through three interconnected scales: (1) Product—the intimate and personal; (2) Service—the relational and experiential; and (3) City—the systemic and infrastructural. Through lectures, field research, and collaborative design, students will investigate how these scales interact to shape healthier, more inclusive, and age-friendly futures. In partnership with the Dexter Senior Center, students will apply service design methods to reimagine future food delivery and nutrition systems, working with older adults and community stakeholders to develop innovative, evidence-based solutions for a longevity society.

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Learning objectives

1. Develop a foundational understanding of Design for Longevity (D4L) through design process and theory.

2. Build core competencies in service design (70%) and systems engineering methods (30%) to support advanced studios and professional practice.

3. Analyze and interpret the concept of the LongevityTech City, distinguishing it from the Aging-Friendly City (WHO, 2006) and the City of Longevity (National Innovation Centre for Ageing, 2023).

4. Practice applying service design and systems-oriented approaches through collaborative, field-based projects.

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Weekly schedule

• W1 [ link ] D4L Unclock Framework: Introduction

• W2 [ link ] Longevity: Pillar 1

• W3 [ link ] Service: Pillar 2

• W4 [ link ] System: Pillar 3

• W5 [ link ] Design: Lens 1

• W6 [ link ] Technology: Lens 2

• W7 [ n/a ] Research Insight: Mid-term Presentation

• W8 [ link ] Society: Lens 3

• W9 [ link ] LongevityTech City: Society Fitness

• W10 [ link ] CoP: Intergenerational Learning

• W11 [ link ] Speculative Future: Discursive Design

• W12 [ link ] Urban System: Latent Needs​

• W13 [ n/a ] Reflection: Thanksgiving Break

• W14 [ link ] Stage, Not Age: Lifestyle Age Perspective

• W15 [ n/a ] Longevity Society: Final Presentation

 

Acknowledgment
The lecturer gratefully acknowledges Anna Pekrul, LLMSW-Macro, Executive Director of Dexter Senior Center, and Marie Gress, LMSW-Macro, Executive Director of WAVE, for their invaluable support and collaboration in making this course possible.