To improve quality of life for older adults living with dementia, students at OCAD University partnered directly with older adults living with dementia, observing daily routines and learning about their lived experiences to create tools that help make everyday life easier and more meaningful.
Through an experiential learning initiative in partnership with Baycrest, a health sciences centre, students work alongside faculty mentors to develop prototypes aimed at improving engagement, comfort and social connection for people with cognitive challenges. In this hands-on Human-Centred Design course, students conducted research, interviewed caregivers and residents, and tested their creations in real-world settings. The designs include sensory-based activities, memory support tools, music-related devices and wearable aids that can reduce anxiety and enrich daily experiences – all vetted by care staff and tested with participants.
By equipping future designers with real-world experience solving complex challenges tied to aging and cognition, the results of this collaborative work were showcased in a public exhibition, where the prototypes were presented as thoughtful responses shaped by direct engagement with older adults, helping address the needs of a rapidly aging population.
For more information, visit OCAD University.
Published on March 6, 2026.
