Design Principles for AgeTech and Longevity Solutions

Have you ever used a product or service and felt…delighted by the experience? Felt like it was so easy or pleasant to use, or worked so well, or was so helpful that you’d hate to be without it? I hope your answer is yes. Unfortunately, I bet you can also think of many more that didn’t feel great. Ones that left you feeling frustrated or discouraged or like there HAS to be a better way. It’s hard work to come up with delightful solutions. It’s even harder if you’re solving a problem you haven’t experienced firsthand. So, consider this an invitation – an invitation to explore stepping into someone else’s shoes (or maybe one’s that feel familiar) to think about what contributes to making a solution feel delightful for people in the AgeTech and Longevity space.

These 10 design principles are ones that I developed as I started – first by listening to people in this space – then learning about, working in, volunteering, organizing, and raising awareness in the very dynamic, opportunity-rich space that is AgeTech and the Longevity Economy. But first, some definitions.

What are Design Principles?

Design principles are tools for helping people and teams ensure the solutions they’re developing are people-centric. They help teams make more thoughtful, informed decisions by keeping the needs of the people they’re designing for front and center. Dale Carnegie famously said, “Knowledge isn’t power until it’s applied.” Similarly, design principles are most powerful when they are actionable and integrated into the creation process, even better if that process includes the people you’re designing solutions for.

What I Mean by AgeTech and Longevity Solutions

AgeTech, as defined by Andy Miller, SVP of Innovation & Product Development at AARP, is where longevity meets technology to help us age better. It encompasses HealthTech, FinTech, InsurTech, Smart Home, Mobility, Transportation, FemTech, Caregiving, Social Connection, Lifestyle, Travel, Entertainment, and more.

Longevity solutions are things that help us stay healthier longer (by directly addressing the mechanisms & biological process of aging). I suggest they also include things that enable us to maintain our autonomy, agency, and dignity, stay socially connected, continue to meaningfully contribute to and engage in our communities, workplaces, family, and civic life, and be in a position to comfortably and confidently support and enjoy a lifespan that may extend beyond 100 years. These solutions aren’t  just for older people either–they’re for everyone. After all, each and every one of us is aging each and every day, and our loved ones are (hopefully!) living longer as well.

Design Principles for AgeTech and Longevity Solutions

1. Meet me where I am

Show me that you're listening and understand my context—culturally, geographically, socioeconomically, technically, fiscally. Offer me solutions and opportunities that match my needs, goals, preferences, pace, comfort zone, budget, and are relevant for me at this particular moment in time. Understand the social dynamics at play and realize I might not be comfortable sharing certain types of information with certain people, or that asking for help might be deeply uncomfortable for me, so look for ways to assess utility and usability through my actions, not just my words. Seek to understand the family, faith, and community dynamics that shape my thinking and inform my actions. Am I reluctant to give up control, don't want help even if I might need it, don't want to feel like a burden? Get creative and figure out how to put yourself in my shoes and think about what you would want, need, and do if you were me. If your solution doesn't feel right when you're standing in my shoes, think about how you could flex or evolve it so it might be a better fit. If you want me to trust you and try your solution, show me why I should by letting me know that you see me, hear me, understand me, and are willing to meet me where I am instead of expecting me to meet you where you (or my family) thinks I should be.

2. Please Don’t Make Me Feel Stupid

No one wants to feel stupid. If a solution is hard to use, complicated to get started with, or fails to meet a person's needs, they’ll likely abandon it. Ensuring clarity and usability can make a significant difference in adoption and satisfaction. 

3. Simple Is… Great

Great design often goes unnoticed because it's seamless. Simplicity in design makes technology more accessible and less frustrating. Whether it's a medical device like smart socks that monitor diabetic foot health and require nothing more than putting them on and plugging in a hub to start sharing updates, or simplifying the onboarding process with a chat-based flow as Clara has done, that allows users to provide necessary information in a manner that is more familiar and comfortable, ease of use is critical. Also, remember that people don't have infinite patience or perpetual access to tech support (or another set of hands, legs, eyes, or ears) when they need it. The more your design process accounts for that and removes as much friction as possible, the more likely it is to be adopted.

4. Help Me Feel Relevant, Not Relegated

Everyone wants to feel they have a purpose. As people live longer, it’s vital to harness their wisdom and experience. Helping individuals feel valued and relevant can significantly impact their well-being and ability to continue to contribute to their communities.

5. Understand That Financial Security Is Critical to My Well-Being 

Financial insecurity can be devastating, embarrassing, and incredibly stressful. Ensuring that solutions consider and support financial stability is essential for overall well-being. Creators must be mindful of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, starting with the basics. If I can't meet my basic needs, anything beyond that will likely feel out of reach or downright discouraging.

6. Don’t Make Me an Object of Surveillance

No one likes being watched all the time. While monitoring can be well-intentioned and incredibly helpful, it’s important to balance it with respect for privacy and autonomy. Solutions should empower rather than intrude.

7. Include Me in the Fabric of Daily Life, Don’t Sideline Me

Loneliness is a significant issue, not just for older adults but across generations. Intergenerational connections enrich everyone involved and are a great way to build empathy. There’s nothing quite like seeing or experiencing something first hand to really, truly understand it. Contribute to that opportunity by ensuring solutions integrate and connect rather than isolate.

8. Avoid Elderspeak, Treat Me Like an Adult

Patronizing speech, or elderspeak, can be incredibly demeaning. Treating older adults with respect and as equals is crucial. Engage with them directly and avoid talking down to them. Be mindful of the language you use and make sure the benefits feel meaningful to all the people who’ll be using a solution, not just a singular audience, like a person’s children or caregivers on behalf of them. 

9. Help Me Maintain My Dignity

Maintaining dignity is fundamental. Examples like Hogeweyk, a dementia village in the Netherlands, demonstrate how prioritizing a “normal” life over a medicalized one can lead to better outcomes and a higher quality of life.

10. Fun Is Ageless, It Never Goes Out of Style

Everyone enjoys having fun, regardless of age. Designing solutions that are enjoyable and engaging can significantly improve user experience and satisfaction for everyone involved. Harness the power of play and joy whenever and wherever you can :)

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