Case Study 2 – Ben's Puzzles
Areas of impact: Elderly, Mental Health
Social enterprise location: London, UK
Short description of activities:
Ben Atkinson-Willes, working with Prof Hilary Dalke, a research specialist in inclusive design for dementia care at Kingston University, has designed a range of puzzles to provide a therapeutic leisure activity for people living with Dementia.
The puzzles have been designed following extensive user-centred research with people with Alzheimer’s. The ability to complete the puzzles provides enjoyment and satisfaction and this in turn increases well-being.
The puzzles use imagery, which is familiar to the elderly users, including a Spitfire aircraft, a train, a dog and a family at the beach, to provide a focus for recollection and conversation.
Why it's a social design:
The puzzles aim to provide a focus for therapeutic activity for those with Dementia. The set of boxed puzzles forms an essential piece of medical equipment for care homes.
The social design has the makings of a sustainable business with reported orders from care homes as well as retailers who seek to provide inclusive products for purchase, such as John Lewis.
What is its design aspect?
The puzzles were produced using user-centred design techniques, working with potential users (those with dementia) to develop and test the design proposals and ensure they met their requirements in terms of enjoyment and therapeutic benefit.
The puzzles combine graphic design and product design skills in the creation of products that serve their users’ needs and context of use. For example, the materials used are durable and washable.
Main actors and interactions (including stakeholders, networks, services and revenue streams):
- People with dementia
- Dementia researchers
- Carers
- Relatives
- Care homes
- Retailers
Social Impact:
Research shows it is important to keep people with dementia as physically and mentally active for as long as possible. This is because it can give them a better quality of life over a longer period and can delay the onset of the illness. The puzzles achieve this and provide additional benefits to users by giving them a sense of achievement on completion and encouraging social interaction with carers and relatives.
Economic Impact:
The puzzles offer the opportunity to develop a sustainable business focused on designing and providing therapeutic products for dementia sufferers.
Environmental Impact:
By designing the product to be durable and washable, Ben has ensured that his puzzles will last for many years. Furthermore, by encouraging care homes to purchase them, a large number of people can benefit from one set of puzzles.
Links:
www.benspuzzles.com
www.kingston.ac.uk/pressoffice/latestnews/2009/may/26-Students-design-helps-piece-together-parts-of-the-Alzheimers-puzzle/
www.mailonsunday.co.uk/health/article-1205203/Jigsaw-wont-leave-dementia-sufferers-pieces.html