A design-driven approach to enhance sleep wellbeing

Sleep wellbeing can be improved through physical products, digital services, and related systems. This study developed and applied a new design-driven approach for generating sleep wellbeing solutions and reflected on its use through project outcomes and designers’ feedback. Distinct from technology-based product development, a design-driven approach focuses firstly on establishing user needs and secondly on generating creative and feasible solutions. The specific approach taken connected autonomy, competence, and relatedness from self-determination theory (SDT) with principles of gamification, to elevate intrinsic motivation to use new sleep-related products and services. The approach was applied within a concept design project (‘Sleep-Well’) carried out by graduate industrial design students (n = 11) in collaboration with a healthcare industry partner. Projects were evaluated by instructors and invited experts through presentations and coursework. Additionally, students’ self-reported experiences with the design-driven approach were examined. The primary benefits of the design-driven approach come from user-centred design exploration, namely (i) fresh perspectives on current and projected products and services, and (ii) creative responses to untapped problems and opportunities identified through initial project research. The approach is proposed as a valuable means for developing innovative sleep health solutions, with SDT principles supporting motivation-focused user engagement.