An Example of Using a Project-Based Design in Solving Interdisciplinary Design Problems

Urban Therapy—Urban Health Path as an Innovative Urban Function to Strengthen the Psycho-Physical Condition of the Elderly

“…A fundamental starting point in the work of the entire team is a deep understanding of how users function and to empathise with their needs. The process involved the following stages [ 61 ]: Stage 1: Empathising—research into users’ needs Definition of hypotheses and their verification during casual interviews: use by seniors, forms of their leisure activities, attitudes toward physical activity, and literature analysis (desk research); Stage 2: Problem definition Generating problem statements based on desk research and free interviews to determine the assumptions in the following areas: forms of use of recreational space by seniors, recreational and health needs, specifics of the design of digital tools for seniors; Stage 3: Ideation and exploration of solutions Urban analysis of the urban space of Gliwice and determination of the route; Defining the functionality of the application and the algorithm for its use, defining the method for monitoring user activity while working with the application, personalising the settings, and defining the statistics collected; Summarising the information collected from the users using the value proposition matrix (needs, problems, and benefits) and generating solutions; Development of application content (exercises and tasks); In situ research on the selected route and key architectural objects; Group brainstorming; Stage 4: Prototyping Development of a prototype mobile application, recording of the content of exercises and tasks, and a preliminary concept for the visual identity of the health pathway; Stage 5: Testing Verification of the developed application and the route of the path with groups of seniors using a test sheet (determination of what works, what should be improved, and collection of questions and suggestions) and use of an application evaluation survey; Stage 6: Implementation planning Summarising the results of testing, grouping errors, and shortcomings that can be solved immediately after testing, and indicating the necessary changes to be implemented in the long term. …”

“…As part of the implemented project, a senior health path was created, located in the urban space of Gliwice (Upper Silesia, Poland) and linked to a mobile application. The research used a behavioural model of the therapeutic effects of the components of the space [ 61 ]. The main scientific goals of the project include the following: Developing criteria for the selection of urban space features (e.g., topography, building elements, or small architecture) with a view to determining their suitability for the rehabilitation of older people; Developing assumptions for the development of technological tools to activate and engage older people in physical activity and cognitive functions; Selecting architectural objects with significant historical and monumental value as elements of user interest in urban architecture.…”

“…As part of the implemented project, a senior health path was created, located in the urban space of Gliwice (Upper Silesia, Poland) and linked to a mobile application. The research used a behavioural model of the therapeutic effects of the components of the space [61]. The main scientific goals of the project include the following:…”

“…A fundamental starting point in the work of the entire team is a deep understanding of how users function and to empathise with their needs. The process involved the following stages [61]:…”