Age-Friendly Design

An approach to designing products, services, and environments that accommodates the needs and capabilities of older adults, including those experiencing age-related changes in vision, hearing, cognition, and motor skills. Age-friendly design overlaps significantly with accessibility and universal design principles but focuses specifically on the patterns of ability change associated with aging, such as reduced contrast sensitivity, slower processing speed, decreased fine motor control, and increased sensitivity to cognitive load. In technology design, age-friendly approaches emphasize simple and predictable interfaces, larger text and touch targets, clear navigation, minimal reliance on memory, and support for gradual learning rather than requiring immediate technology proficiency.