Towards happiness: Possibility-driven design

Abstract

This chapter suggests possibility-driven design as an alternative to the common problem-driven approach. A first part explores the concept of "possibilities" and how it relates to happiness and well-being. We further develop the notion of designing for the pleasurable life and the good life through a number of exemplary design cases. Each takes a possibility-driven approach, thereby highlighting potential challenges and merits. By that, we hope to lay ground for an approach to design, which draws upon happiness to motivate the design of future technologies. This will help establishing a culture of humane innovation, which understands technology as a possibility to improve life directly. © 2012 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.