The Role of Empathy in Product and Service Design for Ageing Populations

Project dates (estimated):

September 2022 - August 2026

Name of the PhD student:

Elisa Cardamone

Supervisors:

Arno Verhoeven – Edinburgh College of Art

Ian Underwood – School of Engineering

John Vines – Design Informatics.

Project aims:

This project explores how we can empathise with the lived experience of ageing populations, designing digital devices and services that respond to their hopes and fears. Central to the study is examining the role of empathy in product and service design. The aim is to develop an expanded empathy framework for intergenerational inclusive design and codesign. 

Disciplines and subfields engaged:

  • Design

  • Engineering

  • Gerontechnology

  • Science and Technology Studies

  • Phenomenology

  • Ethics

Research Themes:

  • Co-Production and Participatory Design 

  • Embodied Experience and Affect  

  • Ageing, Longevity, and the Life Course  

  • Ethics of Care and Empathy 

  • Emerging Technology and Human Flourishing 

Related outputs:

  • Fletcher, J. Cardamone, E. Hatzifilalitis, S. Samanta, T. Azroomchilar, E. (2024). ‘Curating the ‘Care-Full’ Home: An Experiment in Satirical Interdisciplinarity in Social Research’ [Under Review in Sociological Research Online].

  • Bronze Medal for the project ‘VitaPulse: Reducing Stigma Around Frailty Through Smart Jewellery.’ at the Robotics + Care Mash Up Hackathon. Emergence Network, National Robotarium, Edinburgh, October 2023.

  • Guernon, A.S. Lazzaroni, C. Cardamone, E. Couture, D. Maki, N. Mendenhall, E. Wahlberg, A. Robbins-Panko, J. Graham, M. (2023). ‘Transitive Afflictions,’ Roundtable Discussion at: AAA/CASCA Transitions, 15-19 November, Toronto, Canada.

  • Cardamone, E. (2023) ‘Co-Creating Narratives of Usefulness,’ in De Sainz Molestina, D., Galluzzo, L., Rizzo, F., Spallazzo, D. (eds.), IASDR 2023: Life-Changing Design, 9-13 October, Milan, Italy. 🔗

  • Cardamone, E. (2022). ‘Co-Creating Narratives of Usefulness: Advancing Self-Care Through Empathy Oriented Digital Device Interventions,’ Poster presented at: Advanced Care Research Centre Symposium, 25 April, Edinburgh.

PhD ResearchCTMF AdminDesign, Engineering, Gerontology, Science and Technology Studies, Phenomenology, Ethics