Generational differences can be explained by these 3 things
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Your round-up of design thinking news and opportunities, to improve your practice.
Welcome to Design Thoughts! I’m Charlotte, a freelance service designer. This newsletter is a round-up of thoughts, news and opportunities.
Generational differences can be explained by these 3 things
I recently read: Bobby Duffy’s book: The Generational Divide: Why We Can’t Agree and Why We Should. The book pointed out a flaw with most generational analysis. Most generational analysis focuses on cohort effects. In reality, there are 3 key factors that explain generational differences in views and behaviours.
Period effects
The attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of a society can change in a consistent way across all age groups, due to a major event. An obvious one is COVID-19 causing office workers to work from home. This is a period effect that impacts us across age groups.
Lifecycle effects
People changing as they age. For example; people tend to retire when they are older. It wouldn’t be fair to say; baby boomers aren’t as hard working as millennials, because less of them are working. In reality, when millennials are 60+ they will also be working less. Millennials are currently more likely to campaign for paternity and maternity rights - they’re thinking about those rights because of their life-stage. When Gen Z are 30-40 they may be campaigning about similar things.
Cohort effects
A generation has different attitudes, beliefs and behaviours because they were socialised in different conditions from other generations. Therefore they will remain distinct from other cohorts even as they age. Eg. The post-war generation are more likely to attend religious ceremonies. It’s easy to accidentally blame cohort effects for all generational differences in attitude and behaviour.
In the book Duffy argues that all societal change is explained by a combination of these 3 effects. This gives us a framework for a deeper understanding of what is likely to come next. And how to understand and relate to our elders, and the younger generation.
Events
Design Patterns for Mental Health Community Meet-up
Wednesday 21st July at 12pm (British Summer Time). An online meet-up for people working on the design and delivery of mental health products and services. There'll be short talks (and I'll be delivering one!) and break out rooms after. Tickets are £6 get yours at this link.
Happiness-related news
This week I've collated some happiness-related news, rather than making it all about design. Because what's life about really.
- 🛋 The IKEA Design Lab are developing a coach that fits in an envelope. Not available to buy (yet). I really enjoyed this concept - would make moving house much easier. Source
- 🌞 "It’s taken me 80 years to figure out it’s not a tranquil, sunlit realm" Helen Garner on happiness in The Guardian. Beautiful article on how you have to grab moments of happiness when you can. Source
- ❤️ "I thought therapy would bring me happiness – why does it feel more elusive than ever?" I'm a massive believer in mental wellbeing tactics that aren't 1-2-1 therapy. Source
- 💰Universal Basic Income plans drawn up for £1600 a month trial in England. Massive news. Source
Tweet of the week
Tweet of the week goes to Andy Tabberer:
"A reminder as I start a new job today 😍
- be interested
- express affection
- demonstrate other people matter
- accept perspective
- make jokes (obvs)
- show appreciation
- find opportunity for agreement
- empathise and apologise"
Great advice to anyone on any day.
Opportunities
Volunteer Team Lead, Ecosystem Research, Work on Climate
10 hours/week consistently for the next 6+ months. I hesitated to share an unpaid role, but it's for the planet and this organisation have many other opportunities.
Salary: unpaid role.
Location: remote.
Speak at the Magnify Conference
Magnify is a conference show-casing research and design practices that strive for a more equitable society.
Fee: ranges from £150+ as a panelist, more for workshops and talks
Location: remote as conference is online.
Interaction and Product Designer
TPX Impact digital consultancy
Salary: £40,000 - £50,000
Location: UK-wide
Real Designers
6 ways to design services for REAL people Charlie Fountaine Freelance Service Designer Welcome to the newsletter! It's had a slight refresh. I'm Charlie 👋your newsletter spirit-guide. This no-nonsense newsletter is all about designing better products and services for real people. Each month I send you a short email explaining how. These are favourite 6 tips that I continually apply to my design work. In each project, I apply these ideas, to make services that are as easy-to-use as they can...
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