Designing Positive AI: How optimizing for contextual wellbeing inspired a design method for artificial intelligence that promotes human flourishing

The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), from <i>curatorial</i> AI in YouTube to <i>generative</i> AI in ChatGPT, demonstrates both potential for progress and risks of harm. Adopting a Positive Design approach aimed at directly enhancing human wellbeing, this dissertation develops the concept of...

Educating resilient and well designers

In this paper, we explore how resilience and wellbeing can integrate into, and improve design pedagogy. We establish 10 principles for designer resilience from workshops with students, educators and design practitioners. Each principle offers a platform to develop subsequent learning activities that remedy hollow didactic statements observed...

Design for wellbeing during Covid-19: A cybernetic perspective on data feedback loops in complex socIotechnical systems

The COVID-19 pandemic has put wellbeing on the global agenda like never<br/>before. Many businesses, organizations, and even governments have recognized<br/>wellbeing as a formal policy goal. This paper addresses the question of how to design<br/>complex systems to improve the wellbeing of their stakeholders. We present a case of<br/>helping a...

A review of resilience in higher education: toward the emerging concept of designer resilience

Higher education (HE) students experience rates of depression and anxiety substantially higher than those found in the general population. Many psychological approaches to improving wellbeing and developing student resilience have been adopted by HE administrators and educators, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. This article aims to...

The impact of earthquakes on residential wellbeing

In the Netherlands, the extraction of natural gas from the ground has led to soil subsidence and the occurrence of earthquakes. These earthquakes cause physical damage to buildings and also lead to psychological problems and decreased housing satisfaction. Research on the impact of natural hazards has shown that there is a complicated...

Rebel by design: The merits of rebellious play and how to design for it

Play as a behavioural domain is characterized by freedom and flexibility, which contribute to both short-term and lasting wellbeing. Children play increasingly under supervision of adults, who generally perceive rough and rebellious behaviour negatively. The paper argues that also rebelliousness is a valuable aspect of play. The psychological...

How designers and marketers can work together to support consumers' happiness

A product’s value proposition rests on the notion that it brings value to its customers. Typically, such value is created by having novel product functionality, superior technology, or new customer benefits, but value can also be created by adhering to what is fundamentally important to customers in their lives. Focusing on customers’ happiness...

Sustainability's relationship with product design education

This paper shares the experiences of delivering dedicated curriculum in sustainable design (BA & MA Programmes at the University for the Creative Arts) and integrating sustainability into already congested Product Design Programmes (BA & BSc Programmes at the University of Hertfordshire). With the former sustainability is the key driver for...