INDEPENDENCE TO
IN DEPENDENCE
LIGHTRIC MOTORS
Investigating the intersections of aging, identity, and support systems through help-seeking behaviors in urban India.
LIGHTRIC MOTORS
CLIENT
Srianvi
Year
2025
DURATION
2 MONTHS
challenge.
LIGHTRIC MOTORS
Uncover and establish an ecosystem of insights and opportunities to reimagine how systems, communities, families and You can support and invite the act of seeking help as a deeply human impulse, and not a weak one, especially as we age.
Uncover and establish an ecosystem of insights and opportunities to reimagine how systems, communities, families and You can support and invite the act of seeking help as a deeply human impulse, and not a weak one, especially as we age.
Uncover and establish an ecosystem of insights and opportunities to reimagine how systems, communities, families and You can support and invite the act of seeking help as a deeply human impulse, and not a weak one, especially as we age.
Context
Context
In India, older adults often face complex challenges in seeking help for their health and well being, shaped by cultural, social, and systemic factors. This study aims to challenges ageist narratives and seeks to empower older adults as active agents in their well being, rather than passive recipients of care.
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
Context
In India, older adults often face complex challenges in seeking help for their health and well being, shaped by cultural, social, and systemic factors. This study aims to challenges ageist narratives and seeks to empower older adults as active agents in their well being, rather than passive recipients of care.
Help seeking is not just an individual decision but a systemic one, influenced by both the tangible and the intangible! Not just urban infrastructure and policies, but social structures, care giving practices and philosophies too!
Help seeking is not just an individual decision but a systemic one, influenced by both the tangible and the intangible! Not just urban infrastructure and policies, but social structures, care giving practices and philosophies too!
Help seeking is not just an individual decision but a systemic one, influenced by both the tangible and the intangible! Not just urban infrastructure and policies, but social structures, care giving practices and philosophies too!
My Scope (so far)
My Scope (so far)
To build a foundational understanding of the cultural, systemic, and psychological dimensions of geriatric elderly well-being in urban India. Factoring community led initiatives (my research has shown greater promise in encouraging preventive health seeking behaviors than purely medicalized approaches) into our study.
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
My Scope (so far)
To build a foundational understanding of the cultural, systemic, and psychological dimensions of geriatric elderly well-being in urban India. Factoring community led initiatives (my research has shown greater promise in encouraging preventive health seeking behaviors than purely medicalized approaches) into our study.
research.
LIGHTRIC MOTORS
The research has progressed through multiple layers of inquiry, from theoretical framing to co-designing qualitative research methods with participants.
The research has progressed through multiple layers of inquiry, from theoretical framing to co-designing qualitative research methods with participants.
The research has progressed through multiple layers of inquiry, from theoretical framing to co-designing qualitative research methods with participants.
Refining scope
Refining scope
Through an extensive month of reading published papers, scientific journals and reasoning with feasibility based on my limitations (as a student doing this), my literature review helped me narrow down the scope from my original gigantic enquiry - ' Mental health & well being of the elderly Indian man '. I narrowed my lens to urban elderly citizens above the age of 65 who have professionally retired in different living conditions.
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
Refining scope
Through an extensive month of reading published papers, scientific journals and reasoning with feasibility based on my limitations (as a student doing this), my literature review helped me narrow down the scope from my original gigantic enquiry - ' Mental health & well being of the elderly Indian man '. I narrowed my lens to urban elderly citizens above the age of 65 who have professionally retired in different living conditions.
Ethnographic Research
(Shared activities)
Ethnographic Research
(Shared activities)
Engaged with residents in old-age homes to understand contrasts in help-seeking behaviors between institutionalized and independently living older adults. Spent time with the elderly and recruited research particiapants by visiting places where older adults naturally gather, such as public parks (early mornings) and neighborhood coffee houses regularly to build trust and rapport.
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
Ethnographic Research
(Shared activities)
Engaged with residents in old-age homes to understand contrasts in help-seeking behaviors between institutionalized and independently living older adults. Spent time with the elderly and recruited research particiapants by visiting places where older adults naturally gather, such as public parks (early mornings) and neighborhood coffee houses regularly to build trust and rapport.
Research Probe
(Journey Mapping)
Research Probe
(Journey Mapping)
' A Day in the Life Of ' I employed task-based journey mapping to understand daily lived challenges in diverse socioeconomic settings. The probe required them to take us through a typical day in their life, mapping every activity and rate them on a scale of 0 to 4.
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
Research Probe
(Journey Mapping)
' A Day in the Life Of ' I employed task-based journey mapping to understand daily lived challenges in diverse socioeconomic settings. The probe required them to take us through a typical day in their life, mapping every activity and rate them on a scale of 0 to 4.
Research Probe 2
Facilitating roleplay
(contextual ice breaker)
Research Probe 2
Facilitating roleplay
(contextual ice breaker)
' Help Doctor, ' A social, role-playing action game designed (and disguised) as a research probe. The participant take on the roles of Doctor, and I the Patient. The Patient (me) presents a health complaint ranging from exaggerated to everyday concerns, and the Doctor must diagnose and suggest a solution. The game provides an insightful way to explore how older adults discuss, perceive, and respond to health and well being related issues.
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
Research Probe 2
Facilitating roleplay
(contextual ice breaker)
' Help Doctor, ' A social, role-playing action game designed (and disguised) as a research probe. The participant take on the roles of Doctor, and I the Patient. The Patient (me) presents a health complaint ranging from exaggerated to everyday concerns, and the Doctor must diagnose and suggest a solution. The game provides an insightful way to explore how older adults discuss, perceive, and respond to health and well being related issues.
Interview
(Semi Structured)
Interview
(Semi Structured)
Some of the participants from the probe activity kindly agreed to be interviewed. I prepared a questionnaire with 3 phases : casual, personal and contextual, allowing for a natural flow. Used the questions only as a reference and got the hang of it by the 2nd interview. I learnt to gently shift the sensitivity of the conversation without them feeling like there was a massive spotlight. I learnt A LOT about sensitive interaction dynamics during this phase!
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
Interview
(Semi Structured)
Some of the participants from the probe activity kindly agreed to be interviewed. I prepared a questionnaire with 3 phases : casual, personal and contextual, allowing for a natural flow. Used the questions only as a reference and got the hang of it by the 2nd interview. I learnt to gently shift the sensitivity of the conversation without them feeling like there was a massive spotlight. I learnt A LOT about sensitive interaction dynamics during this phase!
Behaviour.
LIGHTRIC MOTORS
FROM SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY TO COMPLEX HABIT CHANGE
FROM SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY TO COMPLEX HABIT CHANGE
FROM SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY TO COMPLEX HABIT CHANGE
Habitual ageing in urban india
Habitual ageing in urban india
Understanding the human brain remains a paramount challenge in contemporary science, and the study of habits offers a crucial window into its functioning . Habits, defined as automatic behavioral tendencies moulded by environmental circumstances and triggered by specific cues, play a significant role in structuring daily life, particularly as individuals age. Unlike instincts, which are largely biologically determined, habits are profoundly shaped by learning and cultural transmission, acting as a powerful conservative agent within society (James, 1890/1950, as cited in Wood & Rünger, 2016).
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
Habitual ageing in urban india
Understanding the human brain remains a paramount challenge in contemporary science, and the study of habits offers a crucial window into its functioning . Habits, defined as automatic behavioral tendencies moulded by environmental circumstances and triggered by specific cues, play a significant role in structuring daily life, particularly as individuals age. Unlike instincts, which are largely biologically determined, habits are profoundly shaped by learning and cultural transmission, acting as a powerful conservative agent within society (James, 1890/1950, as cited in Wood & Rünger, 2016).
Hebbian learning and encoding
lifelong habits
Hebbian learning and encoding
lifelong habits
Hebbian learning theory proposes that when one neuron repeatedly assists in firing another, the connection, or synapse, between them strengthens. This principle, often summarized as “neurons that fire together, wire together,” suggests that correlated neural activity drives synaptic plasticity, the brain’s ability to modify connection strengths (Keysers & Perrett, 2004; Shatz, 1992).
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
Hebbian learning and encoding
lifelong habits
Hebbian learning theory proposes that when one neuron repeatedly assists in firing another, the connection, or synapse, between them strengthens. This principle, often summarized as “neurons that fire together, wire together,” suggests that correlated neural activity drives synaptic plasticity, the brain’s ability to modify connection strengths (Keysers & Perrett, 2004; Shatz, 1992).
Flow theory
Flow theory
Flow theory describes a state of optimal experience characterized by deep immersion, energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in an activity. This state arises when an individual perceives a balance between the challenges of the activity and their own skills, allowing for a merging of action and awareness where performance feels almost automatic yet highly engaging .
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
Flow theory
Flow theory describes a state of optimal experience characterized by deep immersion, energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in an activity. This state arises when an individual perceives a balance between the challenges of the activity and their own skills, allowing for a merging of action and awareness where performance feels almost automatic yet highly engaging .
Habit discontinuity
Habit discontinuity
Habits are notoriously context dependent, automatically triggered by familiar environmental cues. The Habit Discontinuity Hypothesis proposes that significant changes in life context disrupt these cues, weakening the automatic activation of old habits and creating a “window of opportunity” for intentional behavior change. During such discontinuities, behaviour becomes less automatic and more guided by conscious intentions and goals, as individuals must actively deliberate rather than rely on ingrained routines (Verplanken et al., 2008; Wood et al., 2005).
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
Habit discontinuity
Habits are notoriously context dependent, automatically triggered by familiar environmental cues. The Habit Discontinuity Hypothesis proposes that significant changes in life context disrupt these cues, weakening the automatic activation of old habits and creating a “window of opportunity” for intentional behavior change. During such discontinuities, behaviour becomes less automatic and more guided by conscious intentions and goals, as individuals must actively deliberate rather than rely on ingrained routines (Verplanken et al., 2008; Wood et al., 2005).
Lewin’s Change Model
Lewin’s Change Model
Field Theory suggests behaviour results from a balance between driving forces promoting change and restraining forces resisting it (Lewin, 1947). Modifying a habit requires shifting this balance.
1. The Unfreeze stage involves disrupting the existing habit
2. The Change stage involves learning and implementing the new behavior
3. The Refreeze stage aims to stabilize the new behavior, making it the new norm
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
Lewin’s Change Model
Field Theory suggests behaviour results from a balance between driving forces promoting change and restraining forces resisting it (Lewin, 1947). Modifying a habit requires shifting this balance.
1. The Unfreeze stage involves disrupting the existing habit
2. The Change stage involves learning and implementing the new behavior
3. The Refreeze stage aims to stabilize the new behavior, making it the new norm
analysis.
LIGHTRIC MOTORS
The interpretation that follows is therefore not a neutral decoding, but a reflexive encounter with their realities through the lens of my capstone enquiry: how and why do older urban Indian men seek or avoid help, particularly in relation to their health and well being?
The interpretation that follows is therefore not a neutral decoding, but a reflexive encounter with their realities through the lens of my capstone enquiry: how and why do older urban Indian men seek or avoid help, particularly in relation to their health and well being?
The interpretation that follows is therefore not a neutral decoding, but a reflexive encounter with their realities through the lens of my capstone enquiry: how and why do older urban Indian men seek or avoid help, particularly in relation to their health and well being?
Thematic & sub thematic analysis
Thematic & sub thematic analysis
To honour the voices of the elderly participants, I engaged deeply with their narrative interviews and storytelling probes. Rather than extracting quotes solely for thematic categorization, I spent time sitting with their words , not only for what was said, but for what was carefully not said.
Each persona thus has a unique thematic fingerprint. For example: Some themes highlight stoicism and refusal to burden others (eg : Persona 1, Persona 6). Others reveal selective trust, driven by both past experience and current system alienation (eg : Persona 2, Persona 8). Some personas wrestle with modernity’s pace, while others navigate aging with systems knowledge but emotional exhaustion (eg : Persona 3, Persona 11).
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
Thematic & sub thematic analysis
To honour the voices of the elderly participants, I engaged deeply with their narrative interviews and storytelling probes. Rather than extracting quotes solely for thematic categorization, I spent time sitting with their words , not only for what was said, but for what was carefully not said.
Each persona thus has a unique thematic fingerprint. For example: Some themes highlight stoicism and refusal to burden others (eg : Persona 1, Persona 6). Others reveal selective trust, driven by both past experience and current system alienation (eg : Persona 2, Persona 8). Some personas wrestle with modernity’s pace, while others navigate aging with systems knowledge but emotional exhaustion (eg : Persona 3, Persona 11).
Affinity Mapping
Affinity Mapping
Affinity mapping helped me trace how individual behaviours , such as postponing doctor visits or avoiding emotional vulnerability , were not isolated quirks, but outcomes of deeper psychosocial infrastructures. What emerged was a field of interwoven realities , interpersonal, intergenerational, systemic, and cultural , that collectively shape help seeking patterns.
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
Affinity Mapping
Affinity mapping helped me trace how individual behaviours , such as postponing doctor visits or avoiding emotional vulnerability , were not isolated quirks, but outcomes of deeper psychosocial infrastructures. What emerged was a field of interwoven realities , interpersonal, intergenerational, systemic, and cultural , that collectively shape help seeking patterns.
This wasn’t coding to reduce, to define. It was coding to expand. The process reflected my capstone’s core orientation i.e understanding help seeking behaviour not as a single event, but as an intersection of personal history, bodily intuition, familial ties, cultural scripts, financial pressures, and existential meanderings.
ROADBLOCK
ROADBLOCK
As the themes surfaced through affinity mapping, I encountered an unsettling realization. Each theme was grounded in the individual’s world, but collectively, they began to show what was missing. This absence was not in the data, but in the disciplinary boundaries through which the data was interpreted.
As a "human centered designer", I had framed the research around people , their needs, behaviours, perceptions, and environments. And yet, the very themes I was drawing from their stories seemed to flatten out when kept solely within the frame of “users” and “useful design.” The systems they moved through , health, family, finance, faith, memory, could not be addressed meaningfully without crossing into domains of sociology, psychology, economics, critical theory, public health, anthropology, and more.
It was here that I reached a threshold.
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
ROADBLOCK
As the themes surfaced through affinity mapping, I encountered an unsettling realization. Each theme was grounded in the individual’s world, but collectively, they began to show what was missing. This absence was not in the data, but in the disciplinary boundaries through which the data was interpreted.
As a "human centered designer", I had framed the research around people , their needs, behaviours, perceptions, and environments. And yet, the very themes I was drawing from their stories seemed to flatten out when kept solely within the frame of “users” and “useful design.” The systems they moved through , health, family, finance, faith, memory, could not be addressed meaningfully without crossing into domains of sociology, psychology, economics, critical theory, public health, anthropology, and more.
It was here that I reached a threshold.
EUREKA!
EUREKA!
I saw how the very act of thematizing risks abstraction , unless we actively reconnect those themes to collective identities. In this context :
a) the power structures that condition choices
b) the histories that sediment norms
c) the language games that hide suffering
d) the ecologies of care that exceed any one discipline’s toolkit
To design well, we must see not just the person, but the forces that shape the person, and the feedback loops between person and system.
Thus, this section marks my epistemological shift. From seeing the persona as the “end user” to seeing them as an active node in a dynamic, entangled, socio political system.
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
EUREKA!
I saw how the very act of thematizing risks abstraction , unless we actively reconnect those themes to collective identities. In this context :
a) the power structures that condition choices
b) the histories that sediment norms
c) the language games that hide suffering
d) the ecologies of care that exceed any one discipline’s toolkit
To design well, we must see not just the person, but the forces that shape the person, and the feedback loops between person and system.
Thus, this section marks my epistemological shift. From seeing the persona as the “end user” to seeing them as an active node in a dynamic, entangled, socio political system.
Every quote, every hesitation, every ritual, every small act of dignity, every delay in help seeking , they were not just personal choices. They were interactions between what is felt, what is seen, what is socially permitted, and what is materially possible. These realities were not separate. They were interdependent. Constantly informing, shaping, and suppressing each other. This was the watershed moment.
pivot.
LIGHTRIC MOTORS
what emerged when i sat with the unsaid
what emerged when i sat with the unsaid
what emerged when i sat with the unsaid
The Compass
The Compass
The reality of the elderly urban Indian man is not shaped only by his thoughts or actions, but by:
a) the infrastructure that enables or disables him (objective reality)
b) the emotions and memories that shape his inner world (subjective reality)
c) the social norms and expectations that dictate what he can express (social reality)
d) the invisible cultural forces that shape meaning, value. (intersubjective reality)
Each of these is a layer of reality. But they don’t stack , they interact, continuously, subtly, and sometimes otherwise. I needed a new way to see and design. So I conceptualised The Compass. Not a model, not a tool, but a lens. A way to orient myself toward truth , not as a fixed destination, but as a negotiation across realities.
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
The Compass
The reality of the elderly urban Indian man is not shaped only by his thoughts or actions, but by:
a) the infrastructure that enables or disables him (objective reality)
b) the emotions and memories that shape his inner world (subjective reality)
c) the social norms and expectations that dictate what he can express (social reality)
d) the invisible cultural forces that shape meaning, value. (intersubjective reality)
Each of these is a layer of reality. But they don’t stack , they interact, continuously, subtly, and sometimes otherwise. I needed a new way to see and design. So I conceptualised The Compass. Not a model, not a tool, but a lens. A way to orient myself toward truth , not as a fixed destination, but as a negotiation across realities.
Each layer is valid. Insights emerge in their tensions. And it is here , in this interstitial, often invisible realm , that most help seeking decisions are made or avoided.
The four quadrants of the compass
The four quadrants of the compass
I. Objective Reality : That which can be measured, verified, and replicated.
It is the realm of facts, data, material structures, physiology, and infrastructure.
II. Subjective Reality : That which is felt, remembered, or interpreted personally.
It is the domain of lived experience, encompassing pain, joy, trauma, memory, perception, and intuition.
III. Intersubjective Reality : That which is shared between people, including culture, norms, rituals, and stories collectively agreed upon.
IV. Social Reality : That which is codified at scale, comprising institutions, laws, systems, policies, and economies.
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
The four quadrants of the compass
I. Objective Reality : That which can be measured, verified, and replicated.
It is the realm of facts, data, material structures, physiology, and infrastructure.
II. Subjective Reality : That which is felt, remembered, or interpreted personally.
It is the domain of lived experience, encompassing pain, joy, trauma, memory, perception, and intuition.
III. Intersubjective Reality : That which is shared between people, including culture, norms, rituals, and stories collectively agreed upon.
IV. Social Reality : That which is codified at scale, comprising institutions, laws, systems, policies, and economies.
The significance of The Compass lies in its recognition that change , whether individual, collective, or systemic , required engagement across these multiple realities. As this/ "my framework" states, effective transformation is inherently multi dimensional, and neglecting any layer risks undermining interventions.
Why this matters
Why this matters
To design for perception change, behaviour change, or system transformation, we must move beyond “user journeys.” We must map reality journeys. We must ask:
a) What does this person perceive to be true?
b) What is actually true?
c) What is allowed to be true?
d) What has never been questioned as true?
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
Why this matters
To design for perception change, behaviour change, or system transformation, we must move beyond “user journeys.” We must map reality journeys. We must ask:
a) What does this person perceive to be true?
b) What is actually true?
c) What is allowed to be true?
d) What has never been questioned as true?
WHAT I DID NEXT
WHAT I DID NEXT
Applying findings from affinity map to the compass to move from raw findings to a multi dimensional understanding that could effectively inform design interventions. The process involved systematically reviewing each theme and sub theme. Drawing upon the definitions and characteristics of the Objective, Subjective, Intersubjective, and Social layers described in Part 8.1, I assigned the most relevant Compass layer(s) to each finding.
This assignment was based on interpreting the essence of each theme and sub theme through the lens of which reality dimension it primarily described or was most anchored in, while also noting significant connections to other layers.
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
WHAT I DID NEXT
Applying findings from affinity map to the compass to move from raw findings to a multi dimensional understanding that could effectively inform design interventions. The process involved systematically reviewing each theme and sub theme. Drawing upon the definitions and characteristics of the Objective, Subjective, Intersubjective, and Social layers described in Part 8.1, I assigned the most relevant Compass layer(s) to each finding.
This assignment was based on interpreting the essence of each theme and sub theme through the lens of which reality dimension it primarily described or was most anchored in, while also noting significant connections to other layers.
ANALYSIS & PATTERN
RECOGNITION
ANALYSIS & PATTERN
RECOGNITION
Beyond identifying where themes concentrate, applying The Compass enabled the identification and analysis of crucial interconnections , points where different layers of reality interact and influence each other.
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
ANALYSIS & PATTERN
RECOGNITION
Beyond identifying where themes concentrate, applying The Compass enabled the identification and analysis of crucial interconnections , points where different layers of reality interact and influence each other.
reccomendations.
TRANSLATING LAYERED INSIGHTS INTO HOLISTIC DESIGN DIRECTIONS
LIGHTRIC MOTORS
Recognizing that help seeking and non seeking behaviours are shaped by the complex interplay of personal experiences, cultural
norms, material conditions, and systemic structures, the design objective was to conceptualise interventions capable of operating effectively at these crucial junctures. Rather than developing solutions confined to a single layer, the focus was on identifying opportunities to bridge gaps, mediate tensions, or leverage positive dynamics where these realities intersect. The key interconnections identified in the preceding analysis served as the focal point for what follows.
Recognizing that help seeking and non seeking behaviours are shaped by the complex interplay of personal experiences, cultural
norms, material conditions, and systemic structures, the design objective was to conceptualise interventions capable of operating effectively at these crucial junctures. Rather than developing solutions confined to a single layer, the focus was on identifying opportunities to bridge gaps, mediate tensions, or leverage positive dynamics where these realities intersect. The key interconnections identified in the preceding analysis served as the focal point for what follows.
Recognizing that help seeking and non seeking behaviours are shaped by the complex interplay of personal experiences, cultural
norms, material conditions, and systemic structures, the design objective was to conceptualise interventions capable of operating effectively at these crucial junctures. Rather than developing solutions confined to a single layer, the focus was on identifying opportunities to bridge gaps, mediate tensions, or leverage positive dynamics where these realities intersect. The key interconnections identified in the preceding analysis served as the focal point for what follows.
subjective fears/stigma
+
intersubjective cultural norms
& family dynamics
subjective fears/stigma
+
intersubjective cultural norms
& family dynamics
A) Facilitated communication tools & spaces
Designing structured formats or creating safe, facilitated environments
B) Narrative based interventions
Developing and sharing stories (via community media, local gatherings, or simple booklets)
C) Family education & engagement programs !
Designing resources or workshops that educate family members about the specific health and emotional needs associated with aging
D) Peer support networks with a focus on shared experience Creating platforms or groups where elderly men can connect with peers who have navigated similar health challenges or help seeking journeys.
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
subjective fears/stigma
+
intersubjective cultural norms
& family dynamics
A) Facilitated communication tools & spaces
Designing structured formats or creating safe, facilitated environments
B) Narrative based interventions
Developing and sharing stories (via community media, local gatherings, or simple booklets)
C) Family education & engagement programs !
Designing resources or workshops that educate family members about the specific health and emotional needs associated with aging
D) Peer support networks with a focus on shared experience Creating platforms or groups where elderly men can connect with peers who have navigated similar health challenges or help seeking journeys.
Objective Health/Physical
Limitations
+
Subjective Struggle/
Acceptance
Objective Health/Physical
Limitations
+
Subjective Struggle/
Acceptance
A) Integrated physical & emotional support tools
Designing services or tools that combine physical health management with emotional coping strategies.
B) Reframing tools & narratives
Creating communication materials or facilitated group discussions that offer positive reframings of aging and health
management.
C) Accessible self assessment & information
Designing user friendly ways for men to understand their Objective health status without immediately needing to navigate formal systems.
D) Activity & engagement design !
Developing programs or resources focused on accessible physical activities or hobbies that men can engage in despite Objective limitations (eg : felden krais, chair yoga, gardening tips for limited mobility).
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
Objective Health/Physical
Limitations
+
Subjective Struggle/
Acceptance
A) Integrated physical & emotional support tools
Designing services or tools that combine physical health management with emotional coping strategies.
B) Reframing tools & narratives
Creating communication materials or facilitated group discussions that offer positive reframings of aging and health
management.
C) Accessible self assessment & information
Designing user friendly ways for men to understand their Objective health status without immediately needing to navigate formal systems.
D) Activity & engagement design !
Developing programs or resources focused on accessible physical activities or hobbies that men can engage in despite Objective limitations (eg : felden krais, chair yoga, gardening tips for limited mobility).
subjective attitudes (trust/
skepticism)
+
social healthcare/system
& technology design
subjective attitudes (trust/
skepticism)
+
social healthcare/system
& technology design
A) Humanizing system interactions
Designing service delivery models within the Social system that prioritize personal connection, empathy, and clear communication from providers.
B) Building trust through transparency & reliability !
Designing processes within the Social system that are predictable, transparent, and consistently reliable.
C) Co design and feedback mechanisms
Involving elderly men in the design of healthcare services and technology (Social/Objective). This co creation process inherently builds trust and ensures that the final design is aligned with their Subjective preferences and capabilities (Theme 10.2).
D) Culturally sensitive technology design !
When designing digital health tools (Social/Objective), prioritizing intuitive interfaces, culturally relevant language and visuals, and providing offline or human support options to address Subjective discomfort and skepticism towards technology (Theme 10.2).
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
subjective attitudes (trust/
skepticism)
+
social healthcare/system
& technology design
A) Humanizing system interactions
Designing service delivery models within the Social system that prioritize personal connection, empathy, and clear communication from providers.
B) Building trust through transparency & reliability !
Designing processes within the Social system that are predictable, transparent, and consistently reliable.
C) Co design and feedback mechanisms
Involving elderly men in the design of healthcare services and technology (Social/Objective). This co creation process inherently builds trust and ensures that the final design is aligned with their Subjective preferences and capabilities (Theme 10.2).
D) Culturally sensitive technology design !
When designing digital health tools (Social/Objective), prioritizing intuitive interfaces, culturally relevant language and visuals, and providing offline or human support options to address Subjective discomfort and skepticism towards technology (Theme 10.2).
intersubjective relationships/
community
+
subjective isolation/ loneliness
intersubjective relationships/
community
+
subjective isolation/ loneliness
A) Designing spaces and programs for authentic connection
Creating community centers, local clubs, or structured activities (eg : walking groups, skill sharing workshops) specifically designed to facilitate social interaction among peers.
B) Intergenerational programs!
Designing activities or mentorship opportunities that connect elderly men with younger generations (Intersubjective). This can help bridge the generational disconnect (Theme 6.3), provide a sense of purpose (Subjective, Theme 7.2)
C) Leveraging trusted community nodes
Identifying and supporting existing informal gathering places (eg : local tea stalls, parks, community halls) or trusted individuals (eg : local shopkeepers, religious figures : Intersubjective) as points of connection
D) Digital inclusion with a social focus
If designing with technology (Social/Objective), prioritising features that enable social connection (video calls with family abroad: Theme 6.5, group chats with peers) in ways that are accessible and comfortable (Subjective, Theme 10.2)
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
intersubjective relationships/
community
+
subjective isolation/ loneliness
A) Designing spaces and programs for authentic connection
Creating community centers, local clubs, or structured activities (eg : walking groups, skill sharing workshops) specifically designed to facilitate social interaction among peers.
B) Intergenerational programs!
Designing activities or mentorship opportunities that connect elderly men with younger generations (Intersubjective). This can help bridge the generational disconnect (Theme 6.3), provide a sense of purpose (Subjective, Theme 7.2)
C) Leveraging trusted community nodes
Identifying and supporting existing informal gathering places (eg : local tea stalls, parks, community halls) or trusted individuals (eg : local shopkeepers, religious figures : Intersubjective) as points of connection
D) Digital inclusion with a social focus
If designing with technology (Social/Objective), prioritising features that enable social connection (video calls with family abroad: Theme 6.5, group chats with peers) in ways that are accessible and comfortable (Subjective, Theme 10.2)
intersubjective cultural/traditional
beliefs
+
social modern systems
intersubjective cultural/traditional
beliefs
+
social modern systems
A) Integrating traditional practices sensitively
Designing healthcare interactions or health management tools that acknowledge and respectfully inquire about traditional practices (Intersubjective) (Objective knowledge, Subjective belief) and explore safe ways to integrate or complement them with modern medical advice (Social).
B) Culturally mediated health information
Developing health information campaigns or materials that are delivered through trusted community channels (Intersubjective eg : religious leaders, community elders) and framed in language and metaphors that resonate with cultural understanding (Intersubjective), potentially explaining modern medical concepts using relatable traditional concepts.
C)Training for cultural competence in systems !
Providing training for staff within Social systems (healthcare providers, social workers) on local cultural beliefs and practices related to health and aging (Intersubjective), enabling them to provide more culturally sensitive care and build trust (Subjective).
D) Designing pathways for hybrid care!
Exploring service models that facilitate informed choices about combining traditional and modern approaches (Subjective preference), possibly by providing clearer information on potential interactions or benefits/risks of combining practices (Objective info delivered via Social/Intersubjective channels).
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
intersubjective cultural/traditional
beliefs
+
social modern systems
A) Integrating traditional practices sensitively
Designing healthcare interactions or health management tools that acknowledge and respectfully inquire about traditional practices (Intersubjective) (Objective knowledge, Subjective belief) and explore safe ways to integrate or complement them with modern medical advice (Social).
B) Culturally mediated health information
Developing health information campaigns or materials that are delivered through trusted community channels (Intersubjective eg : religious leaders, community elders) and framed in language and metaphors that resonate with cultural understanding (Intersubjective), potentially explaining modern medical concepts using relatable traditional concepts.
C)Training for cultural competence in systems !
Providing training for staff within Social systems (healthcare providers, social workers) on local cultural beliefs and practices related to health and aging (Intersubjective), enabling them to provide more culturally sensitive care and build trust (Subjective).
D) Designing pathways for hybrid care!
Exploring service models that facilitate informed choices about combining traditional and modern approaches (Subjective preference), possibly by providing clearer information on potential interactions or benefits/risks of combining practices (Objective info delivered via Social/Intersubjective channels).
results.
LIGHTRIC MOTORS
Based on the analysis highlighting the impact of Intersubjective norms, Subjective experiences, Objective realities, and Social structures on help seeking behaviours, the future design work will focus on creating and testing interventions that operate across these layers, particularly targeting ageism narratives and systemic barriers. Here are the feasible selected interventions I aim to work on during and beyond this capstone.
Based on the analysis highlighting the impact of Intersubjective norms, Subjective experiences, Objective realities, and Social structures on help seeking behaviours, the future design work will focus on creating and testing interventions that operate across these layers, particularly targeting ageism narratives and systemic barriers. Here are the feasible selected interventions I aim to work on during and beyond this capstone.
Based on the analysis highlighting the impact of Intersubjective norms, Subjective experiences, Objective realities, and Social structures on help seeking behaviours, the future design work will focus on creating and testing interventions that operate across these layers, particularly targeting ageism narratives and systemic barriers. Here are the feasible selected interventions I aim to work on during and beyond this capstone.
SELECTED INTERVENTIONS
SELECTED INTERVENTIONS
Family education & engagement programs ! (Conversation guide)
Activity & engagement design ! (Facilitate for felden krais, a somaesthetic activity at support groups through Green Oak Initiative.)
——
Integrated financial & healthcare navigation ! (Future pitch to SAGE initiative)
Community based financial support linkages ! (Future pitch to SAGE initiative for funding)
——
Building trust through transparency & reliability ! DocMeDoc app.
Culturally sensitive technology design ! DocMeDoc app.
——
Intergenerational programs ! (Conversation guide)
Training for cultural competence in systems ! (Tool kit for support systems, healthcare providers, social workers from diverse populations)
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
SELECTED INTERVENTIONS
Family education & engagement programs ! (Conversation guide)
Activity & engagement design ! (Facilitate for felden krais, a somaesthetic activity at support groups through Green Oak Initiative.)
——
Integrated financial & healthcare navigation ! (Future pitch to SAGE initiative)
Community based financial support linkages ! (Future pitch to SAGE initiative for funding)
——
Building trust through transparency & reliability ! DocMeDoc app.
Culturally sensitive technology design ! DocMeDoc app.
——
Intergenerational programs ! (Conversation guide)
Training for cultural competence in systems ! (Tool kit for support systems, healthcare providers, social workers from diverse populations)
Rigorously testing and validating
the compass framework
Rigorously testing and validating
the compass framework
Empowering designers by providing
toolkits:
Develop comprehensive, accessible toolkits (including guides, worksheets, and examples) based on the experience of applying The Compass in this and potentially other projects, making the framework easy for other designers and researchers to understand and implement in their own work.Consulting subject matter experts for interdisciplinary testing :
Engage with academic and professional experts from relevant disciplines (such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, public health, service design, policy analysis) to critically review and test The Compass framework from their disciplinary perspectives, ensuring its conceptual robustness and applicability across various fields and avoiding disciplinary abstraction.Testing the compass using diverse
published research:
Apply The Compass framework as an analytical lens to existing published research studies focusing on behavior change, identity, or perception in various contexts. This will involve re analyzing existing findings through the four Compass layers to assess the framework’s ability to reveal new insights, structure complex data, or provide a comparative analytical structure across different research projects.
Informing decision-making: Research provides data and evidence to support design decisions. It helps designers make informed choices about layout, color schemes, typography, and other design elements, leading to more effective and user-friendly websites
Rigorously testing and validating
the compass framework
Empowering designers by providing
toolkits:
Develop comprehensive, accessible toolkits (including guides, worksheets, and examples) based on the experience of applying The Compass in this and potentially other projects, making the framework easy for other designers and researchers to understand and implement in their own work.Consulting subject matter experts for interdisciplinary testing :
Engage with academic and professional experts from relevant disciplines (such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, public health, service design, policy analysis) to critically review and test The Compass framework from their disciplinary perspectives, ensuring its conceptual robustness and applicability across various fields and avoiding disciplinary abstraction.Testing the compass using diverse
published research:
Apply The Compass framework as an analytical lens to existing published research studies focusing on behavior change, identity, or perception in various contexts. This will involve re analyzing existing findings through the four Compass layers to assess the framework’s ability to reveal new insights, structure complex data, or provide a comparative analytical structure across different research projects.
the end? Nope. Just a pause.
LIGHTRIC MOTORS
A note to the reader if you have managed to get through to this point.
Thank you for embarking on this journey through the layers of help seeking and non seeking behavior among elderly urban Indian men. If you have reached this point, you have
navigated complex themes and a framework designed to embrace, rather than simplify, the intricate nature of reality.
My deepest hope in sharing this work, and the insights gleaned through applying The Compass, is to gently invite you to carry forward a simple, yet profound, practice:
To question, always, and deeply. To strive to see better, looking beyond the obvious, the data points, or the single story. To consciously move away from dualistic forms of
communication and thinking that demand either/or, right/wrong, this extreme or that.
Reject the false comfort of binaries and allow for the infinite grey areas that exist between any two extremes.
Why?
Because it is only by embracing this complexity that we can truly help see better, the nuances of human experience, the subtle forces at play, the hidden barriers, and the quiet
strengths. And it is only by seeing better that we can hope to help navigate better, through the complex challenges faced by individuals, communities, and systems.
RAHUL MUDU
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RAHUL MUDU
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