Shopping redefined : designing for day to day

• Main Author: Lim, Fiona Bei Xuan
• Other Authors: Peter Chen Chia Mien
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Anthropology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/78010
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This thesis evaluates existing shopping models and prevalent idiosyncrasies observed in different grocery retailers across Singapore. The project aims to explores the sociocultural aspect of aging and the social value of shopping as the paradigm of shopping shifts, to meaningfully engage Singapore’s growing demographic of older adults as they live actively out of their golden years. As the older population is never a single big homogenous group but individuals with significant diversity in capabilities, physique each shaped by their own contrasting experiences and lifestyle. It is crucial to acknowledge this diversity especially having the republic being one of the top rapid aging countries in the world, where aged 65 or older set to inflate to nearly a million in the next 10 -15 years. We can expect the older adults of tomorrow to be slightly different than the Pioneer Generation with better accessibility in education and advancement in technologies. This demographic shift could also signify a likely shift in older demographics’ expectations on living and lifestyle as compared to the earlier generations. With the advancement in technologies in recent years, it is not surprising that it has contributed to the rise of internet of things. Effecting different sectors, including the retail industry, which redefined the archetype of shopping. Now, one does not require to hit the stores physically to shop for their own groceries any longer. While this digital disruption in retail have certainty brought about new experiences in shopping, the value of visiting stores for groceries physically have yet to be diminished in today’s consumer society. Shopping still holds its own value as a routine form of mobility that everyone engages in. For the older adults, this mundane routine was undoubtedly bringing home food from the store despite their increasing years and ailments. But, a bigger framework, which encompasses a healthy exercise, taking a breather as a source of distraction, a bite to eat and an opportunity for social stimulation upon encountering familiar faces along the journey. It gives them a sense of purpose and autonomy. Thus, this research aims to understand the older demographic and their relationship with shopping. Further research findings extracted from literature reviews are expanded and placed into human context through observational studies of a varying group of older adults, their care takers, senior care centres and their usual hang-outs. If shopping helps to alleviate the older adults’ well-being, why not make it better to promote active ageing? With this, how can we design to make shopping a little better for them?