Positive design during a pandemic Rediscovering enjoyment through daily activities

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Published: Jul 13, 2022
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2022-07-13 (1)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52611/bdi.num6.2022.776
Keywords:
  • COVID-19
  • design intervention
  • psychological needs
  • subjective well-being
How to Cite
Orcun, E. ., & Desmet, P. M. A. . (2022). Positive design during a pandemic: Rediscovering enjoyment through daily activities. Base Diseño E Innovación, 7(6), 12–29. https://doi.org/10.52611/bdi.num6.2022.776
Issue
Vol. 7 No. 6 (2022): Design, health and wellbeing
Section
Research
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Main Article Content

Ezgi Orcun
Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1134-8593
Pieter M. A. Desmet
Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0244-5359

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a worldwide health crisis with a major negative impact on the subjective well-being of large populations. Over time, people, including non-vulnerable groups such as healthy young adults, were found to enter a state of languishing: neither depressed nor flourishing, but ‘stuck in between’. The current manuscript describes a design case that aimed to contribute to young adults’ well-being within the limits of governmental measures with a well-being supporting design intervention. Informed by the humanistic perspective on flourishing, the design focused on the enjoyment experienced when fulfilling psychological needs. The resulting design, “Unravel”, is a toolkit that enables the user to rediscover how even simple daily activities (such as cooking) can serve as a platform for exploring and experimenting with one’s personal need fulfillment. The case can inform designers (and design researchers) with an example of a structured approach to design that focuses on the fulfilment of psychological needs.

Article Details

Author Biographies

Ezgi Orcun, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology

Ezgi Orcun is an Experience Designer and Researcher who completed her Master's degree in Design for Interaction at Delft University of Technology. Coming from a hybrid background of Psychology and Visual arts her design projects are guided by the principles of positive psychology, and she is passionate about the ways in which the fields of psychology and design can inform and reinforce each other.

Pieter M. A. Desmet, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology

Pieter Desmet is Professor of Design for Experience and head of the Human-Centered Design department at Delft University of Technology. His main research interest is in design for mood, emotion, and wellbeing. He is partner of Emotion Studio and co-founder of the Delft Institute of Positive Design, an initiative to develop knowledge that supports designers in their attempts to design for human flourishing.

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