Design Research to improve eating habits in later life
Soil Association was developing a proposal to the Big Lottery to establish the national policy and programme foundations for a systematic, nation-wide, community-led transformation of the food ‘landscape’ for older people in England and Scotland.
Innovation Unit was commissioned by Soil Association to conduct in-depth ethnographic research with people over 75 in Leicestershire to identify opportunity areas to improve their experience of food in care settings, community settings and in hospitals.
Innovation Unit conducted research with 11 Leicestershire residents over the age of 75 to understand their experiences and challenges relating to health and wellbeing through the lens of food.
The research process was informed by two participatory workshops which were also used as a way to kickstart a process of local stakeholders engagement.
The Food For Life Better Care team were trained in design research methods to build internal capabilities and enable the team to meet people when developing further opportunity areas.
The research was used by the Soil Association to inform a successful proposal to the Big Lottery Fund. The Food For Life Better Care programme received £1.25 million to launch a systematic, nation-wide, community-led transformation of the food ‘landscape’ for older people in England and Scotland.
Client: Food for Life, Soil Association
Sector: Charity
Services: Service Design
// Project done whilst working at Innovation Unit, London