The New Visitation 2050

What would visitations look like in 2050?

Speculative Design
2024

Personal curiosity

Being in the Army and visiting my grandmother in a care home, I began to reflect on how we can handle difficult situations more effectively.
We all face moments of hardship, and I've realized that our mindset and perception have far more power than we often acknowledge. I wanted to explore new ways to make these experiences more enjoyable and even meaningful.

Festive funerals and rituals help people cope with hardships cheerfully and pray for good fortune, traditions still practiced in some cultures. Since Covid-19, family visits to care homes dropped by 36%, with people used to less physical interaction. Introducing joy and positivity into stressful situations can alleviate stress and support mental health. Sharing emotions and receiving support significantly reduce stress, highlighting the importance of a healthy mental state.

Research paper

How could we be joyful in times of illness, aging and death?

Injecting playfulness into times of hardship can be a powerful way to cope and navigate challenges. Talchoom (탈춤), a traditional Korean mask dance, was historically performed to ward off bad luck or illness in villages. The lively movements and playful masks uplifted spirits, helping communities endure and overcome difficult times

Playfulness

Record low birth rates indicates that Korea will be the world 2nd in high aged society. With the rapid growth of online world less people are engaging in physical interactions (73% less).

What's the future look like in Korea?

What happens at hospital visitations?
What's important?

What would the future visitations look like?

Initial design concepts

The immersive experience through visual, audio, taste and tactile feedback, the patient is able to experience the conventional visitation process on their own.

The natural movement will make the patient look like their dancing a playful scene, but in reality they are being left alone in the hospital bed.

Delivery