“We were all the same age once” – Experiences of Intergenerational App Design

Abstract

SANDPiT is a novel intergenerational project whereby 40 school students and 12 older adults worked together over 9 months to design and prototype technology applications for mobile devices. The main remit of the project was to design applications that are of benefit to younger and older generations alike, focusing on the similarities between generations rather than the differences. This paper explores some of the successes and challenges of creating an intergenerational design team, highlighting issues surrounding collaboration, communication, engagement and mutual learning.