





Collaboration with Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council
The research team co-designed a three-panel sensory wall installation with the stake holders of Wong Tai Sin District Health centre. The co-creation process involved a series of activities which included site visits, in-depth interviews and reflection with elderly users, occupational therapists, healthcare professionals and management staff of the centre. The activities aimed to introduce the intelligent textiles and identify the surface motifs, material, colour, gestures and functional preferences of the stakeholders.
It was also crucial for the researchers to balance the therapists’ sensory stimulation requirements and design expectations of the users. The collaborative design approach was effective and led to surface designs that highlighted key landmarks of the district. The advantages of this approach is to nurture collective ownership of a key sensory equipment used within the centre and to encourage usage after implementation. The co-design process reveals that users value the following: Relevance. Contextual and cultural relevance to their life experiences. Coherence. Logical and easy to use functionality. Creative inspiration from the vibrant Wong Tai Sin District. The health centre services the people working within the district and residents. The population of Wong Tai Sin is 403,000 (approximately 5.5% of HK’s population).