What Matters to Us: Generational Differences

This is a discussion segment from an Intergenerational Workshop on the topic of ""What needs to be different about design of a product to be used by 85yr olds compared to design of a product designed to be used by 25 yr olds?”

The Post-its in this cluster talked about price and value and quality. Much of this seemed uncontroversial as we discussed it but a few interesting points emerged relating to:

• what people value might be rather different between generations: for example style vs safety; or trendiness vs "quality"; reliability; trust; instant gratification;
• the extreme importance of affordability for a large segment of the over 65 yr old demographic;
• "for some, a $300 gadget is unthinkable";