Final Design Proposal

Project Overview: This projects aim is to identify practical solutions that can give a sense of usefulness and purpose to the Neapolitan grandparents, restoring their active role in society. The proposals should not only aim to improve their emotional well-being, but also to foster their connection with the younger generations and the social fabric. Our Design Approach: We thought different workshops and activities where the elderly could act as mentors or team partners, and children as learners. The program will reach the elderly of Napoli through various community touch-points. Collaborations with local elderly centers and cultural associations will ensure direct engagement, while churches will serve as trusted hubs for announcements. In these activities, we can provide different kits tailored to the specific needs of the event, ensuring they have the necessary gadgets and making it easier for them to engage with the activities. We aim to focus on designing Gardening Workshop as one of these potential kits while also developing the system described above as part of our project. This logo appears to represent a society dedicated to fostering inter-generational knowledge exchange between Neapolitan (or Naples-based) elderly individuals and children. The central motif of the logo features a house-like structure, symbolizing community or a shared space, with figures of different ages inside, representing people of all generations. Logo: This logo appears to represent a society dedicated to fostering inter-generational knowledge exchange between Neapolitan (or Naples-based) elderly individuals and children. The central motif of the logo features a house-like structure, symbolizing community or a shared space, with figures of different ages inside, representing people of all generations. The circular arrows suggest a cycle of exchange and continuity, emphasizing the flow of wisdom, skills, and traditions across generations. Workshops likely serve as the primary means to facilitate this transfer, promoting mutual understanding and the preservation of cultural heritage. The acronym "NESIS" may stand for the organization's core values or mission, though further clarification of its meaning would strengthen the explanation. Flyer: The eye-catching flyers (A4 size) will be distributed in key gathering spots, such as piazzas, markets, and community centers, inviting elders to share their knowledge and connect with younger generations through this rewarding initiative. Info Booklet: Kit Content: Technical Drawings: Documents: It includes high quality Flyer and Info Booklet for printing purposes.Flyer: A4 paper sizeBooklet: Half of a A4 Paper size FlyerDownload BookletDownload

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Developed idea conversation – Summary of Meeting

Date: 26 November 2024 21.00-22.00 (GMT +3.00) Participants: Berk Deniz, Mehmet Emin, Zeynep Şebnem, Leonardo, Claudia, Cristiana, Federico, Ida Subject: Discussing developed ideas and requirements for final. As Client:  We gave some critics to them about the developed idea (Gün game idea). We had some questions about the role cards; they clarified these. There are small problems with the role cards; there should be better designed roles because some roles are already determined by the event (like the host the Gün is the Head Chef(they prepeare the main foods, also the host is already the head of that Gün event) . The question “When this game play?” should be answered better; there may be some confusion about this uncertainty. We clarified these school hours meal preparation and food preparation share. We realized that there is a misunderstanding, but it is not affecting the product that they designed much. As designers: We had some questions about the roles of local governments, charities in people’s lives, how these work, how much active they are, and whether they are active in big cities or in rural areas too?  We asked the elderly about their daily life, where they go, to understand that how we can reach the elderly.  We clarified some questions like ;what are the school hours, when students go and leave, and are there lessons on Saturday, etc. With these questions, we will design the system better and clarify when events can be made.  At the end, we both decided to upload the final designs until the end of Friday. 

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Feedbacks on your proposal

Hi guys! Regarding our work, since we need to create a prototype, we definitely need detailed information about the workshop program, even before the gardening activity. How should the paper program be created? We would need a visual image/mock-up, but also: The workshop logo Specific activities Timings Detailed instructions to include in the program to be consulted before the gardening activity. All elements to include in the flyer to advertise the workshop. We understand that gardening is one of the activities of the workshop, and we don’t need any further instructions on that, except for the choice to plant tomatoes, to connect with the city and the culinary culture of Naples. Tomatoes are a fundamental element in Neapolitan cuisine, symbolizing freshness and tradition. They are used in iconic dishes such as pizza margherita, pasta with tomato sauce, and Neapolitan ragù, and are closely linked to the local gastronomic culture. Moreover, the tomato represents a symbol of fertility and abundance, which are central elements in the daily life of the city. We’re writing this now so that during tonight’s video call, you’ll already be able to give us some specific pointers. We kindly ask you to reply as soon as possible since we need to have everything ready by December 5th. Thank you so much!See you later!!

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Idea Development After Given Feedbacks

Based on the feedback we received, we considered how to bring children and the elderly together within the framework of knowledge sharing. At this point, we envisioned different workshops and activities where the elderly could act as mentors or team partners, and children as learners. The elderly would register for the system through Facebook groups, flyers, or other sources where they learn about these activities. Children, on the other hand, could join the system either as part of a school course or through volunteer work.In these activities, we can provide different kits tailored to the specific needs of the event, ensuring they have the necessary gadgets and making it easier for them to engage with the activities(also it can encourge people to get into the event). We aim to focus on designing one of these potential kits while also developing the system described above as part of our project. Flowchart Additionally, you can review the progression of an event step by step, both before the event and on the event day. The Kit and its Contents Below, you can see our idea for a gardening event kit in two different forms. These kits include tools to be used during the event, manuals, as well as delightful content related to the activity. Different types of bags can be designed for different user groups (for the elderly and children), featuring age-appropriate additional materials. This approach also ensures that potential hazards associated with certain gadgets are minimized for children. Thank you for your attention, we can't wait to hear back from you!

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Feedback to Two Refined Ideas

Hello everyone!!!How are you? We hope well! We will send you the detailed technical instructions on how to create and organize the card game, as well as the measures to make the best box. On the other hand, in order to start building prototypes we would need more specific, detailed and concrete indications. Given that the idea is therefore that of a workshop in which the elderly take on the role of teachers and the young people after having learned the basics of the latter will have the opportunity to reinterpret the work in a creative and youthful way, We need to know what activities and tools will be part of the workshop in general. More specifically:What concrete needs to be created for the workshop? (e.g. a paper programme?)What activities should the elderly teach?Could you give us an example of a day of the workshop?Are there specific items that are part of these activities? (for example, is there a kit/set of items that make up the workshop?) We would like to know as much information as possible to start working on it right now! In addition, since we would also have to make a commercial for the product, we would like to be as involved as possible. In any case, we attach the following basic idea to you again: An interesting idea could be to create a programme where the elderlyparticipate actively as "teachers" in specific activities in Italian schools. They could play a role in guiding and supporting students as for the PTCO (Pathways to Cross-Functional Skills and Guidance), a compulsory project where students must acquire practical skills.The elderly could share their knowledge in various fields, such as crafts, traditional cooking, gardening, or even the story of historical experiences.In this way, a generational bridge would be created that enriches the children from the cultural and social point of view, while giving an active role to the elderly in the community. From this idea, we could propose an innovative project of "Art and Tradition Reinvented". The concept is simple and engaging: seniors and youth collaborate in activities that combine traditional skills, such as crochet, with the aim of reinterpreting them in a modern and trendy way.The elderly would teach the basics of these trades of the past, such as weaving, embroidery or knitting, while the young, with their creativity, would explore ways to turn these skills into contemporary products, such as fashionable clothes and accessories. Examples: Casa cometa (IG: casa_cometa_napoli)https://www.instagram.com/casa_cometa_napoli/ Trippat Neapolitan group (IG: _trippat), which revisited crochet to create trendy clothing.https://www.instagram.com/_trippat/ We hope to have conveyed our needs. Update us as soon as possible! Thank you very much! We wish you a good day!!!

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Two Refined Ideas

Local Workshop: From Grandparents to the Young The project aims to bridge generations by pairing elderly Neapoltans wth younger community members in workshops that pass down traditional crafts.  These workshops can be made at schools outside of school hours.  These workshops can be about lace making, gardening, pottery, preparing dishes, or cultural art practices.  Grandpa at Road Through the collaboration of the local government, organized trips can be planned to historical sites and neighboring cities. Wth the help of a ghostwriter, there can be a book/magazine series according to elders’ experiences, what they learned, and nostalgia about these places (how different these places are now). This also includes audio clips, videos, and multimedia materials.

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Initial idea conversation – Summary of Meeting

Date: 12 November 2024 21.00-22.00 (GMT +3.00) Participants: Berk Deniz, Mehmet Emin, Zeynep Şebnem, Leonardo Subject: Discussing initial ideas and comments about ideas. As Client:  We couldn’t have time to look at their initial ideas before the meeting because they uploaded their initial ideas after 15min of the meeting. For the “Gün Game” idea, we liked that idea, and we suggested them to Avoid competition because older people can be sensitive. But for the reward, there can be category awards like best dessert, best soup, etc. At gün, people like to talk about their recipes, and the game can cover these recipe-sharing activities. For the Box Idea, At the end of Gün (sometimes even before, the host prepares food for takeaway), people are taking some of the foods to their homes for their families. This box idea meets this situation well.  We need answers to questions about how they get food and who gets food. As designers: They told us that they looked at 2 of our ideas.  They said that they like the “Local Workshop” idea.  They said that they will add more comments/critiques until 1 p.m. tomorrow since that is when their class is (GMT +3.00).

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Initial Design Concepts: Berk Deniz Dereli

1. Cultural Exchange Homestay Establish a program that pairs elderly Neapolitans with university students, including exchange students, especially those studying Italian culture or language. Elderly provide affordable housing, mentorship, and cultural immersion, sharing Neapolitan traditions, cuisine, and stories, while students offer companionship, light assistance, and their own cultural perspectives. The program combats loneliness among elderly, preserves cultural heritage, and provides students with an enriching, cost-effective living experience. Managed by local government, it includes careful participant matching, training, and support. 2. Garden of Generations Bring together elderly people and young people to maintain community gardens in local parks, fostering inter-generational connections while promoting environmental management. Elderly share their expertise in gardening, teaching traditional methods and sustainable practices, while young participants bring energy and fresh ideas. 3. Living History Exhibitions Reimagine storytelling by combining elderly narrators’ personal memories with interactive elements like photos, or multimedia presentations to create an immersive journey through Napoli's past. Participants, including younger generations, engage actively by asking questions, sharing their perspectives, or even co-creating content, such as recording interviews or curating mini-exhibitions. Held in libraries, schools, or cultural centers, this program transforms elderly into living archives of traditions, fostering a collaborative space where stories are not just told but experienced together.

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Initial Design Concepts

Generations of Knowledge After school hours, there can be special courses or workshops. Option 1: Elderly individuals serve as tutors in various fields such as gardening, knitting, and cooking. These tutors are students who may not have parents at home. Option 2: Elderly individuals become students, while students serve as tutors in areas like technology and environmental awareness. Option 3: Elderly individuals and students collaborate in teams. Elderly in Kindergarten An elderly team, organised with the assistance of the local government, visits kindergartens in the city. They engage in recreational activities and socialise with the children. Grandpa at Road Through the collaboration of the local government, organized trips can be planned to historical sites and neighboring cities. Upon returning from these trips, students and elderly individuals can write a newspaper blog about their experiences, sharing what they learned and the differences they encountered. Meals of Care Elderly individuals prepare food at home, and a foundation collects these meals to distribute to those who require assistance, including those who are elderly and unable to prepare food themselves.

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Initial Design Concepts: Z. Şebnem Özbakır

1. Local Workshop: From Grandparents to the Young Elderly Neapolitans lead workshops teaching traditional crafts—like lace-making, pottery, or cooking—to younger generations, preserving culture and creating bonds. Local authorities support these sessions with space and materials, allowing each workshop to focus on a unique skill. Younger participants take home “starter kits” with materials and a story card about the grandparent’s connection to the craft. The community exhibits the creations to celebrate the participants’ work, while a workshop zine of photos, instructions, and personal stories is shared locally, honoring Naples’ heritage. 2. Ghost Writers to Conserve Napoli Culture Elderly Neapolitans partner with ghostwriters to document their stories and cultural knowledge, creating a book series that preserves Napoli’s heritage. Each grandparent’s unique narrative is published in a collection called “Voices of Napoli,” with launch events that celebrate their contributions. Memory cards featuring quotes and stories offer a glimpse into each elder’s perspective, while a digital archive with audio clips and multimedia materials creates a lasting, accessible record of their legacy. 3. Cultural Recipe Kits Create a series of recipe kits featuring classic Neapolitan dishes that grandparents can assemble with their families. The kits would contain high-quality ingredients and recipe cards that detail the cultural significance of each dish. As a twist, the kit could include handwritten tips from grandparents on cooking techniques, storytelling prompts for mealtime, or even blank recipe cards for grandparents to add their own personal variations. 4. Intergenerational Scrapbook Station Install "Scrapbook Stations" in community centers where elderly people and young visitors can collaborate on building themed scrapbooks. Each station could include materials like vintage photos, postcards, and prompts encouraging grandparents to fill pages with memories or stories, while young people add contemporary elements. Over time, these scrapbooks could become collective memory books of neighborhoods or family histories, which families could borrow or view together.

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Scenario analysis: Naples

DEMOGRAPHICS: Naples is located in the capital of the Campania region and the metropolitan city of the same name, the centre of one of Europe’s most populous and densely populated metropolitan areas; is also the most populous municipality in southern Italy, Italy’s third largest country by population (after Rome and Milan), the largest municipality by density of population and one of the twenty most populous cities in the European Union. In the municipality of Naples, the resident population, which consists of people with usual residence in the same municipality, is 1,004,500. The relative presence of children is above average national. In particular, in the municipality of Naples the percentage of children under five years old is 5.29%, higher than the 4.59% recorded at national level. Unlike the national situation, the definitive data from the 2001 Census on the demographic structure of the population reveals a demographically young municipality. The percentage ratio between the population aged 65 and over and those under 15, known as the old-age dependency ratio, is less than 100, indicating a lower level of population aging. In fact, in the municipality of Naples, it is 91.13%, which is lower than the national figure (131.4%). Another indicator, with economic and social relevance, is the dependency ratio, also known as the demographic dependency ratio. This ratio compares individuals who are presumed to be non-autonomous due to demographic reasons (age)—namely the elderly and the very young—with those who are expected to support them through their activities. In the municipality of Naples, the ratio, which stands at 48.58%, is lower than the national figure (in Italy, 49.02%). The reference to the land area occupied by the population (117.27 square kilometers) allows for the calculation of an indicator, the population density, which has a value of 8,566 inhabitants per square kilometer. This figure is excessively high, especially in comparison to the national data (189 inhabitants per square kilometer). CULTURE: A city with an impressive tradition in the visual arts, rooted in classical times, has given rise to original architectural and painting movements, such as the Neapolitan Renaissance and Neapolitan Baroque, Caravaggism, the Posillipo School, the Resìna School, and Neapolitan Liberty. It is also known for lesser arts of international significance, such as Capodimonte porcelain and the Neapolitan nativity scene. It is the origin of a distinctive form of theater, a world-famous song, and a unique culinary tradition that includes foods that have become global icons, such as Neapolitan pizza and the art of its pizzaioli, which has been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. In 1995, 10.21 square kilometers of the historic center of Naples were recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site for their buildings and monuments, which testify to approximately three thousand years of history. In 1997, the Somma-Vesuvius volcanic system was designated by the same international agency (along with the nearby Miglio d'oro, which also includes the eastern neighborhoods of the city) as a World Biosphere Reserve. In Naples, traditions are rich in secrets…

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Design team 21 definitive brief

“Little joys of everyday life“ Topic “In Naples the elderly are pillar of family life but, over time, is it always like this?“ The Sense of Uselessness and Loss of Purpose of the Elderly Background: Elderly represent a very important pillar for societies all around the world, being carriers of wisdom, experience and values that reinforce the sense of cultural identity and continuity. But many times they can feel themselves pushed aside or less rilevant when they go in retirement phase, or when sons or grandchildren become adults and go away. This phenomenon, known as “loss of purpose”, can have a devastating impact on their emotional and psychological well-being, generating feelings of uselessness, loneliness and isolation. The elderly, once a pillar of the family and community, may be seen as a passive observer, rather than as an active and valuable resource. The elderly in Naples: In Naples, the elderly are considered a valuable and respected resource within the community. The Neapolitan culture gives older people a significant role, both in the transmission of traditions and in the maintenance of collective memory. The elderly are the heart of the family, they play a central role in the care and education of their grandchildren, often participating actively in their growth, to the point of becoming second-generation parents for many children. Even in popular neighbourhoods older people play a social role, participating in community life and keeping local traditions alive through cooking, the language and stories passed down. The subject of our analysis concerns elderly people living in Naples, aged between 60 and 90, with children and grandchildren. So from now on we will not speak of “elders” but of “grandparents“. The Routine of a Neapolitan grandmother: Morning: she wakes up early, with the habit of opening windows and looking out. After dressing herself with care, she makes a strong coffee with mocha. If she has the habit, she can go to the bar on the corner for an espresso and a chat with the neighbours or bartenders, keeping up with the news of the neighborhood and exchanging jokes in dialect. She does the shopping, maybe buying fresh fruit, vegetables, homemade bread and some ingredients for lunch. Lunch and cooking: in the middle of the morning she starts to prepare lunch, often involving grandchildren, especially if they are small aged and want to help, transmitting the secrets of traditional Neapolitan cuisine. Afternoon: after lunch and a short rest, she devotes herself to simple activities. If the weather is nice, she takes the grandchildren to the park or makes them play in the square, where other children gather to play. Otherwise, she stays at home with his grandchildren, telling them stories of when she was young, passing on anecdotes of life and traditions of Naples. Evening: late in the afternoon, they come back home and she prepares dinner while watching the TV. Grandparents’ life revolves around their grandchildrens’ care, by also filling the gaps in a deficient citizen welfare system. In Naples, many elderly people become an indispensable resource…

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Mehmet Emin Gül

Hello everyone,I am Mehmet Emin Gül, a 4th (senior) year industrial student at METU/Ankara. Mehmet is a Turkish-based name and means quite praised. Emin is an Aramaic-based name that means trustable, reliable person, and the person is sure of himself, it is all related to most of the trust-related words in Turkish, Arabic, Hebrew and Persian. And my last name Gül means rose and laugh. But you can call me Emin. My hobbies are solving puzzles, reading bicycles, and hiking. My favourite hiking places are Yedigöller/Bolu, and Koru Mountains National Park/Kastamonu, these both are in Türkiye. I also like reading books, especially about history, and fiction (Dune series).  I like chatting too, about lots of subjects (probably about everything) My hometown is by the sea and quite green. Because of that, I am so curious about Ankara (our university is at Ankara, METU), because of no sea. But our campus is quite big and green, which helped me get used to Ankara. Btw, my favourite escape bench at the campus is 39°53'19.4"N 32°46'36.9"E. So you might have questions (probably don’t :) but I will explain don't worry) about why I wanted to become an industrial designer, I can say that I love solving puzzles. I approach everything I work on as a puzzle. The question of how I can create the most successful product out of many factors is one of the main reasons why I became a designer. Additionally, the presence of different fields within the profession allows industrial designers to work in various areas. Exploring different fields with each product and constantly gaining new knowledge keeps my energy fresh in this profession. These two factors are the main reasons why I wanted to become an industrial designer. Contact Details: E-mail: gul.mehmeteminn@gmail.com or emin.gul@metu.edu.tr Mobile: +90 539 869 30 22 (you can reach me on WhatsApp) Instagram: @eminn_gul LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mehmetemingul

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Berk Deniz Dereli

Hello, I'm Berk Deniz Dereli, a 4th year industrial design student at METU. I generally use my first name, Berk, but you can use whichever name you're comfortable saying. Since childhood, I’ve wanted to study a design-related field, and my first choice was architecture. However, in my senior year of high school, I discovered the industrial design department and realized it suited me better than architecture. And I think I was right. Even though there were times when projects and juries were exhausting, I’ve had a lots of fun and enjoyed studying with my friends over the last three years. Now that it’s my final year at university, I feel like there’s very little time left to spend with my friends at METU. I feel like I’m turning into one of those middle-aged people who always say, "Appreciate your college years." I’ve loved spending time on the computer since I was little. This journey started with playing computer games in my spare time, and later on, watching series, reading comics, or watching anime became part of it. My tastes tend to vary across different types of media, so it might be easier if I list the media I’ve recently consumed and my favorites below as examples. Constantly consuming this type of content in my free time has also influenced the field I want to focus on after graduation. The video game industry is one of the areas that appeals to me the most right now. In fact, I’m currently taking an elective course called Video Game Design. Also, unlike many people, my favorite project in university wasn’t a product design but a short animation called Night Shift that we created for an elective class. Contact Details:E-mail: berkdenizdereli@gmail.com – berk.dereli@metu.edu.trMobile: +90 545 712 3155Instagram: @berk.dereli

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Zeynep Şebnem Özbakır

Hello! I'm Zeynep Şebnem Özbakır, a 4th year industrial design student from Middle East Technical Universty, Türkiye. I actually prefer my second name, Şebnem. No hate to all the "Zeynep"s of the world, it's just too common here in Türkiye so things get a bit confusing sometimes. So, where were we? I first decided to become an industrial designer when I realised that I get impressed by small details that help the user immensely. I was in fact looking at our 10 year old vacuum. Now I know that it's much more complicated than that, yet I still enjoy the simple solutions to what seem to be complicated problems. I am also very interested in arts and music. Though I am rather an inactive enjoyer of music, I try to dabble in art when i find time. I keep a sktechbook by my side at all time in case inspiration strucks. Here's a poorly lit picture of one of the better spreads from my latest sketchbook. Through the university years, I have struggled with having fun while creating a project. For me, anxiety always wins. But the latest project we have finished has a special place in my heart. I believe that I have finally learned how to relax during a project. This project was creating a "running vest". Although at first the project seemed a bit restrictive, but working with fabric and the human form was an interesting experience. A small showcase of the running vest we have come up with. It was named "Vestra" since it was a vest-bra hybrid. Contact Details:E-mail: zeynepsebnemozbakir@gmail.com - sebnem.ozbakir@metu.edu.trMobile: +90 537 522 4490Instagram: @sebnem.ozbakir - @shebijin

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