Emily Carr University Zeitgeist Program: Bringing Together Student Designers and Care Home Residents to Co-design Publications — a Social Innovation Project

Abstract

The Emily Carr University (ECU) Zeitgeist Project is a unique design-based project concept where communication design students and residents in care homes engage in a variety of activities over six sessions together, with the goal of co-creating mini-publications featuring the residents’ stories. While the project’s overarching purpose is to provide social interaction and inter-generational exchange for the residents and students, it also provides an opportunity for the residents, including those living with dementia, to showcase their stories and to actively participate in a design project. The students in turn, not only have the opportunity to develop their design skills, but also learn to connect as young adults with older individuals, who have meaningful stories and experiences to share with them. Overall, this paper discusses the relationship building that occurs between the students and the residents, specifically the storytelling and co-designing relationships, that are key to the ECU Zeitgeist Project’s success as a reciprocal and inclusive program engaging older adults, particularly those with dementia, in collaborative and participatory design processes.