This is a repository copy of Developing critical thinking, collective creativity skills and problem solving through playful design jams.

Background Changes noted within the aging population are physical, cognitive, as well as emotional. Social isolation and loneliness are also serious problems that the aging population may encounter. As technology and apps become more accessible, many basic services, such as those offered by social services, well-being organizations, and health care institutions, have invested in the development of supportive devices, services, and Web-based interactions. Despite the perceived benefits that these devices and services offer, many aging individuals choose not to engage, or engage in a limited manner. To explore this phenomenon, we developed a theory to describe the condition for engagement. Objective The main objective of this study was to understand the perceptions of an aging South African population regarding Web-based services and technologies that could support aging in place (AiP). Although the concept of AiP speaks to a great number of everyday activities, this paper explores aspects of health and well-being as being central to AiP. Methods The study used a grounded theory (GT) methodology, relying on an iterative and simultaneous process of data collection, coding, category development, and data comparisons. Data were collected through qualitative methods, including interviews (13 participants aged between 64 and 85 years), 2 participatory workshops (15 participants), and observations. The study focused on Charmaz’s approach to constructivist GT, which puts forward the premise that theory or knowledge cannot take shape in a purely objective manner. Instead, theory is constructed through the interaction of the researcher and research participant. Coding and data analysis were supported with ATLAS.ti (ATLAS.ti Scientific Software Development GmbH). Results The study resulted in a substantive theory exploring the process of interaction and engaging factors through user insights and experiences. The emerging design theory, Ageing User Decision-Driven Engagement (AUDDE), explored the elements that support engagement with technology and supportive apps, which could offer access to required health and wellness services. Conclusions In AUDDE, the perceived value of the interaction is a crucial catalyst for engagement. Aging users continuously make meaning of their experiences, which affects their current and future actions.

Service design has gained increasingly attention during the last years. It has been approached from the design, business, engineering and the computer science perspectives. Furthermore, service design has grown considerable as an economic activity. Through, conferences, new journals, and magazines about service design, the topic can be easily found. Albeit it is not fully defined, it has becoming an interesting area to explore. At the same time, service design programs have emerged into higher education, oriented to prepare future professionals with new competences. This includes skills to be capable to guide innovation by fostering the co-creation of value with users and to design the best experiences with customers alongside with generating a good return on their investment. If we take it for granted that service design faces challenges in moving forward as a discipline, we need to consider the contextual, social or technological perspective to understand it. The purpose of the paper is to explore how well the service design is embedded in the higher education. Covering Top 50 universities, in which 13 meet our selection criteria, offer 30 service design programs which have been explored to provide an international comparative study based on the type of the program and its curriculum content. The higher education focus is reflected, because we consider that those educated in service design are in future important actors to foster innovation in both private and public organizations.

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This article draws inspiration from two concepts, which initially appear to be at odds with each other. The first refers to the impact that plastics use has had on the environment and human health, while the second explores the prevalence and continued increase in the use of plastic materials. The manufacturing of plastic packaging will be reviewed to identify appropriate intervention. This article focuses on the future development of PET packaging in South Africa, exploring current literature and legislation which aid in the holistic development of the plastic packaging value chain.