Allie McSwiggan
Wise Words is a speculative design initiative run by the Department of Longevity and Wellbeing. It aims to support people who are about to retire, highlighting the value and knowledge they have to pass onto their community as well as the opportunities and possibilities for their next chapter. According to the CSO (2023), the average life expectancy age in Ireland is 83. Meaning individuals retiring at the pension age of 66 are looking at almost 2 decades of Retirement. Although the conversation about Retirement currently centres around your financial wellbeing, there is less of a focus on your overall wellbeing; how you might spend your time, what you might like to try next and what you would like to pass onto following generations.
This project was inspired by my Granny, Kitty Coughlan. At the age of 14, she started a bakery in her home which grew into a chain that spanned across Dublin City named KC Confectionary. Not only did she pass on her love of baking to me, but she set such an incredible example as a hardworking, kind and generous person who had so much wisdom to pass on.
This project aims to highlight the knowledge and value of older people's lived experience whether that be professional or personal and to create a space for that to be shared in the wider community. Keeping different generations in our communities connected by sharing knowledge and wisdom in a way that is mutually beneficial and celebratory.
The project outcomes consist of different touch points in the user journey when engaging and interacting with the Wise Words initiative. When you apply for your pension, a personable postcard is sent out by the Department of Longevity and Wellbeing congratulating you and promoting the Wise Words service. The postcard directs you to find out more on their website. On this platform, you can arrange to chat to an Advisor, see personal and professional opportunities in your area and hear advice from people who have retired. It is also encourages you to apply to become an Advisor. An Advisor is a volunteer who is retired and wishes to pass on their particular knowledge and experience with others in their community through the support of the initiative.
There is also a promotional video on this website depicting the story of Enda Farrell, an Advisor who retired 2 years ago from working in insurance for the last 20 years. Through using the Wise Words service, Enda received a grant to start weekly baking classes in his home where he teaches people in his community what he learnt from growing up working in his mother's bakery. Baking was always something he loved doing and when he retired he found himself wanting to pass on both his and his Mother's legacy. Enda's story highlights the community building that the Wise Words initiative promotes.
This thesis explores the commodification of ‘self-improvement’ through associated trends on social media which revolve around becoming the best version of yourself, particularly popular amongst Gen Z. It analyzes how the trend of bettering oneself has manifested in our consumption habits specifically regarding the buying of vintage and second-hand clothing, and how we use objects of consumption to portray our ‘inner beauty’ to the rest of the world, allowing our aesthetics to become symbols of our ethics and our behavior to become an object of consumption.
It also investigates how fast fashion brands are responding to this trend in the form of creating circular platforms and wellness focused collections, specifically looking at the case study of 'Zara Pre-owned', a platform created by the major fast fashion brand 'Zara' in 2022 that allows consumers to buy and sell second-hand Zara merchandise.
Hi, I’m Allie! A multidisciplinary designer passionate about systems, strategy and empathy at the heart of all my projects. During my time at IADT I have had the privilege of designing the identity for the new DMB canteen, curating an exhibition for an 'Art For Alzheimers' in Ballyroan Library, doing photography for the IADT repository 'Illustro' and doing the information design for 'The Ends of Empire' conference website held at IADT last year. I am so excited by the design research process and the opportunities it holds to address real world issues as well as improving individual and community experiences.
