What is it about?
This study explores how working from home during COVID-19 reduced people’s physical activity and affected their health. It worked with 22 remote workers to understand their daily routines, challenges, and needs. Together, they helped design simple ways to stay active at home, including easy-to-read health tips sent by email and a daily activity journal to track movement. After testing the ideas for five days, participants found the information useful and felt more aware of their activity levels. The study shows that involving people in designing solutions can make health initiatives more practical, engaging, and suited to real-life situations.
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Why is it important?
Addresses reduced physical activity during COVID-19 by co-designing solutions with work-from-home workers. Combines human-centered design with real-world testing, producing practical, user-driven tools like tailored health messages and activity tracking. Offers timely insights for designing effective health interventions in remote work contexts.
Perspectives
I wanted to respond to how quickly remote work changed everyday health habits during COVID-19. By working closely with participants, I saw how small, practical design interventions—like simple prompts and tracking—can meaningfully support people to stay active in constrained home environments.
Dr Juhri Selamet
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Human-centered Design Approach toward the Physical Activity Initiative for Work-from-Home Workers during the COVID-19 Outbreak, The International Journal of Designed Objects, January 2020, Common Ground Publishing,
DOI: 10.18848/2325-1379/cgp/v14i02/1-17.
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