Prototyping for Better Living: A Design Thinking Framework to Enhance Educational Integration in Nursing Home Environments

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Art Education, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran.

2 School of Architecture and Environmental Design, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

This study examines environmental factors influencing Education-Integration in nursing homes and their impact on residents' quality of life (QoL), with a focus on architectural design. Using a mixed-methods approach including literature review, Delphi technique, and surveys of 384 randomly sampled elderly residents in Iran the research identifies key spatial factors and proposes an adaptive design model. Structured around a Design Thinking framework, the process progresses from empathizing with residents' needs, defining core environmental factors via expert consensus, ideating architectural strategies, prototyping design guidelines (Table 7), to testing the framework's impact on QoL through structural equation modeling (SEM-PLS). Pearson correlation and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted using SPSS 24 and Smart PLS. Results indicate that all seven identified factors significantly correlate with QoL, with "Joyfulness of architectural spaces", "Social interactions and community spaces", and "Restorative design" demonstrating the strongest associations. The findings validate the proposed Education-Integrated Design framework as a human-centered, evidence-based prototype for enhancing elderly well-being through intentional spatial planning. This model offers architects and policymakers actionable guidelines for transforming nursing homes into dynamic, learning-oriented environments that actively support residents' physical, psychological, and social quality of life.

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Journal of Design Thinking
Volume 6, Issue 2
December 2025
Pages 381-405

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