Designing for Healthy Ageing in a Digital World

Reflections from Shanghai and Hangzhou

Earlier this month, I travelled to Shanghai and Hangzhou to take part in Digital Literacy and Design, an international event hosted by Beihang University that brought together researchers, designers, and technologists exploring how digital innovation can support healthy ageing.

Rather than a traditional conference, the gathering centred on a highly immersive, expertly facilitated workshop. Over two intensive days, participants from Singapore, the UK, Australia, India, Europe, and Japan collaborated to identify the most pressing opportunities for design, technology, and community engagement to make ageing healthier, more inclusive, and more connected.

For FASTlab, this was an important moment to share our transdisciplinary approach to healthy ageing — one that integrates creative practice, technology, and social research to drive impact beyond the academy.

The experience reaffirmed the value of collaboration that crosses both borders and disciplines, and the importance of keeping design focused on making people’s lives better.

What emerged from these sessions wasn’t just discussion, but the foundation for ongoing international collaboration aimed at translating shared insights into tangible outcomes. We look forward to seeing where this work leads next.