This long-term ethnography researches the addressing of ‘the elderly’ in a period of dramatically changing perceptions of age and demographics. Contemporary methodologies that construct aging as a physically-based design ‘problem’ are abandoned in favour of new material culture approaches that trace the development and changes in aesthetic and symbolic values throughout the life course.
Methodology and benefit: Long-term ethnographic fieldwork and visual anthropology (part of doctoral research) draws a vivid picture of everyday culture and fosters a culturally nuanced understanding of the target group. Preferably used as a rich source and inspiration for future design applications.

Publication: end of 2009