As the world becomes increasingly complex, design presents innovative solutions to enhance people's mental, social, and physical well-being. We invite visitors to explore how thoughtful design and new technologies can enhance health and foster well-being in people’s lives. This year's projects reflect a broad spectrum of topics and highlight how design can contribute to individual, community, and societal health and well-being. Together, they demonstrate the potential of design to create positive change.

Expo Changing Gears in the Klokgebouw

We encourage visitors to visit and experience two projects at the Design United exhibition: 

• Fizzy: A Therapeutic Robotic Ball for Neurodivergent Children
  Fizzy is a spherical robot that enhances therapeutic engagement for neurodivergent children. It combines play and therapy to create a multisensory, interactive tool that improves therapy outcomes.
• Design Your Life: Toolkit for Independent Living
  The Design Your Life toolkit empowers neurodiverse individuals by providing customizable tools for independent living. It encourages self-care and communication about support needs, helping people navigate education, work, and daily life.

“We want to invite you to explore how thoughtful design and new technologies can enhance health and foster wellbeing in people’s lives”

Tingting Wang, Naomi van Stralen, Svetlana Mironcika, Haian Xue

Dialogues

The DDW Dialogues event brings together diverse voices to explore how design and technology can improve health and well-being, from individuals to communities and society. 

• Pillow Talk
  This project uses a feminist approach to explore intimacy and sexual health through objects designed to enhance self-expression and bodily awareness.
• Designing for Self-Care after Abortion: An Abortion Care Package
  A metaphor-driven care package that supports emotional and physical well-being post-abortion.
• Perfect Day
  A board game that bridges cultural gaps by encouraging players to explore similarities and differences, fostering social inclusivity.
• Gaming Intentions
  A mixed reality game that helps adolescents develop sustainable health practices through self-experimentation and motivation.
• Connecting Personal Health and Local High-Tech Food Production
  This project envisions a sustainable food system that integrates health data with high-tech, year-round urban food production.
• Entangled Futures
  An immersive installation that invites participants to co-create scenarios about the future of healthcare and ageing.
• Do You Know Your Mother's Menopause Story?  The project explores the facilitation of the intergenerational dialogue about menopause experiences. 

E-Magazine 

Other noteworthy projects include:

• Transformative Textiles
  Fidgeting fabrics designed to enhance mental well-being through tactile interaction.
• The Science of Serenity
  Innovative textiles that promote calmness and mindfulness through user interaction.
• Redesign of the HeartEye ECG Device
  A portable, user-friendly ECG device for home heart monitoring, integrated with a smartphone app.
• CapriXpress: eHealth for Cardiac Rehabilitation
  A motivational app that supports patients awaiting cardiac rehabilitation, promoting engagement and healthier lifestyle habits.
• StepUp
  A tool that helps pregnant women lift children into bike seats, reducing strain, and promoting mobility.
• A-EYE Memory
  An exploration of how AI-redrawn images affect memory and emotion, with potential applications in memory therapy.
• Shaman in the Office
  A speculative project that examines the use of psychedelic micro-dosing in the workplace for mental health enhancement.

These projects showcase the innovative potential of design to improve health and well-being. At4TU.DU, we want to invite everyone to engage with these projects and explore how design can shape a healthier future for individuals and communities.