BEQUEST
Dhawal Jain was involved in the design of this service platform, while studying for his Masters at Virginia Tech. Dhawal Jain as a sole architect along with a team of 3 Industrial designers, worked closely on this project, coming up with this multi-award winning idea. Bequest is a synonym for legacy. It is also the name of our design. We set out to tackle the daunting issue of social isolation among elders in western society. After copious amounts of research and interviews, we landed on a concept that became more of a system and experience than anything else. We took the issue and broke it down into the causes. We believe that isolation is largely due to the dying out of multi generational homes that provide the natural interactions needed for a happier, healthier life as an elderly person. In the same breath, however, we also know that there are many struggles that come with living with one’s relatives. We found a way around it. Bequest revitalizes what elders have the most of. We take their life experiences and use it as a way for them to connect with younger people who are interested in those experiences. We designed a website that would pair people’s profiles with each other over common interests. Younger people seeking some sort of relatively cheap experience or education will find elders who are seeking social interaction. The elder who acts as a host, guide, and mentor for these young people, will fill out an itinerary to ensure proper communication. A student/traveler will find their profiles and read over the expectations and ultimately go and stay with the elder over some period of time. We believe that Bequest can change”aging in place” by using technology and the age of social media to bridge the gap between the lonely elder and the curious young person and by creating beautiful mentor relationships.
Team : Dhawal Jain, Michael Watanabe, Hafsa Malik, Hohsuan Hsueh
