Good design lies in the fit between people and space.
For design to be relevant, to have impact and to be useful the issues and concerns that affect us in our every day life need to be explored beyond the elite confines of academia. At its very heart, design must be about people and what matters to them.
First of all it must be about listening to what people have to say: what they think – and why. Each and everyone of us has an experience that is unique, and is of a specific place and time. This site gives a voice to people whose story would not normally be told.
Issues that go beyond style and aesthetics such as – ageing, health, mobility issues, empty-nest syndrome and bereavement – have a massive impact on how we live. And, as our attitudes change through different lifestages, what we value most in our homes, and how they look and how they work, changes too.
These are the stories of everyday lives in everyday spaces: each one unique, each one a reflection of where we are, and who we are today.
This social design research project has been developed from my own sense of curiosity based on a desire to know more. It is not supported by an academic grant or institution.
Each story explores areas where design and the social sciences meet, overlap and merge. So, if you are an anthropologist a designer, a social worker, or just interested in people, there is a story here that may resonate with you – in your past, present or future.
Everyone featured here has made design decisions to suit their needs and improve their lives. For each it is an ongoing process that makes design essentially part of who they are.
Interior designers design from the inside-out, rather than outside-in. This website draws valuable insights based on personal histories of occupancy to provide evidence and knowledge that cannot be found elsewhere.