Design in not about design

I believe that Charles Eames was 100% when he said: "Design is the response to constraints that without constraints there is no design. It's not blue sky thinking. The best design solves problems in ways that no one has thought of before".

Design is not about design. It is about solving problems. Design is a quest to solve real world problems elegantly. As both a gerontologist and a designer, I recognize the strong relationship between the two in solving problems. Many people mistake the term gerontology to mean the study of 'old people' when in fact it is the study of aging. We start to age the moment we are born and if fortunate continuing to age for many years. Both gerontologist and designers want provide solutions that encourage inclusion, independence and choice that contributes to the welfare (well being and quality of life) of individuals. They both strive to provide environments and communities that support wellness, address longer life expectancies and enable individuals of various ages and abilities to devote their energies to life rather than struggling with their environments.

It is critical that we form alliances between the healthcare community, architects and designers to provide environments that meet the health, safety and welfare needs of its users.

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