Design ideas to help generations spend time together

The most discussed topics were products that would enhance sustainability, accessibility and connectivity. 

The talk by Marcus Engman on maximising productive use of space included examples of possible solutions to real-life problems such as how Hong Kong residents should dry their laundry. As most of that city’s population are high-rise dwellers with limited space, laundry is typically haphazardly hung on rods outside their windows, creating visual disorder and reducing the ambient pleasure in the local community. 

Another idea is to design a bedside light that has a socket allowing people to charge their mobile phones without requiring an additional plug.

Another key concept in design is to encourage playful interaction between generations. This idea forms the foundation for creating a large project on reclaimed land in West Kowloon that is destined to be the newest recreational space for Hong Kong residents.

When we think about these issues and developing residences in Bangkok, we should consider these factors that reflect the commonality of human and social interaction. 

Even if many young people tend to move out of their households when they have the financial means to do so, they still have a need to connect with family members left behind. This is why these new home-buyers will generally choose to live in a district near their old home. 

With the expansion of the mass-transit systems, a greater variety of choices become available to new homeowners. We are seeing residential areas that were previously populated by horizontal residences, such as detached homes and townhouses, are now witnessing the rise of condominiums to meet the demands of young homeowners who prefer to stay in their local community.

What many considerate developers do is to create places that allow family members more opportunity to spend time together. This has led to the growth of community malls suited for all generations and public parks that offer a safe environment for activities enjoyed by grandparents and their grandchildren.

The success of these ideas can be seen in the Bangkok Street Show, which encourages people of all generations to have fun together, from toddlers to teens, parents, and grandparents.

The digital age is also one where technology is developed to allow people more ways to share information, ideas, and connect people so their relationships are strengthened. It has also led to the advent of new marketing channels that require increasingly flexible responses by marketers to meet the needs of multiple generations so they have multiple channels to share their ideas and traditions, and build new relationships.