SWAPPY — TianQIN Portfolio

CONTENT

Swappy

Designed community-led swap events offering guilt-free, sustainable leisure for mothers with young children in Hounslow, addressing social isolation and promoting mental well-being.

OVERVIEW

In response to a brief from the Hounslow Council, which aimed to explore how ‘leisure’ could be reimagined to nurture connected and healthy communities, We proactively took on the challenge of addressing social isolation and health issues faced by mothers with 0-3 year-old children. Through ethnographic research, interviews, and co-design workshops, We uncovered a strong need for purposeful, guilt-free leisure activities tailored to this group. Building on these insights, we developed a book and toy swap event. Collaborating closely with Hounslow Council, I ensured the successful implementation of the event, which became a recurring community initiative. The first event attracted over 50 participants and received many positive feedback, laying the foundation for ongoing community engagement.

ROLE
UX Researcher,
Service Designer
DURATION

Oct 2023 - Apr 2024

SKILLS

Ethnographic Research
Expert Interview
Co-design Workshop
Questionnaires Collection
User Archetype Analysis
Stakeholder Analysis
Journey Mapping
Service Blueprint Development
Brand Design

TOOLS

CONTEXT

New models of service-Future of leisure

PROJECT PARTNER

London Borough of Hounslow, UK

BRIEF

How ‘leisure’ can be examined, reimagined and supported through new models of service in order to nurture connected and healthy communities.

SENSITISING

Who is missing from the leisure centre?

Observation 1

Many mothers bring babies in strollers to the café for a short break but usually leave within 10-30 minutes. This indicates that the café does not meet their needs for them to stay longer.

Observation 2

When husbands go to exercise while some mothers just wait with their children in the library. They typically wait for 40 - 60 minutes, revealing a gap in the leisure centre's services.

TARGET USER

Unmet leisure needs of moms with kids aged 0-3

10,000 mothers with children aged 0-3 in Hounslow

Challenges of Mothers with kids Aged 0-3

Our observations at the leisure centre highlighted mothers with strollers, indicating the needs of raising young children and gaps in community leisure services.

Importance of Leisure for Mothers

Research shows that mothers have less leisure time than fathers. Although they feel more fulfilled during this time, they also experience more fatigue, stress, and sadness. This highlights the challenge of balancing childcare and personal time, especially for those with children aged 0-3.

Mental Health Issues Among Mothers

In the UK, 1 in 5 pregnant and postpartum women face mental health issues like anxiety and depression, particularly among mothers with children aged 0-3. Their changing identity and increased responsibilities make them more susceptible to these problems. Addressing these issues is crucial, as the UK spends £8.1 billion annually on related mental health care.

RESEARCH

In-depth Research in the Field

Expert Interview
with local NGOs

Creative Spaces LondonTheir Mom Program offers fitness, entertainment, creative, and social spaces to enhance social connections and mental health for mothers.

Feltham Arts Association
Hounslow's second-largest arts activity provider, enhancing community engagement with family-friendly creative events.

Stanwell EventsProvides welfare activities and leisure facilities in Stanwell, including affordable mother and baby products.

Ethnographic Studies
with local mothers

INSIGHTS

Leisure barriers for moms with kids aged 0-3

01 Guilt VS Leisure

Feeling of guilt while prioritising their own leisure

Mothers of children under 3 often feel guilty taking leisure time. Design solutions should create an environment where mothers can rest and recharge without feeling guilty.

02 Purposeful Leisure

Shopping for families as a functional and altruistic leisure

Supermarkets offer mothers a peaceful escape during off-peak hours. They seek brief moments of self-immersion, highlighting the need for leisure and personal space.

03 Stroller-friendly space

Inclusive for mothers, babies, and strollers

Spaces must allow easy movement with strollers. A friendly environment should accommodate strollers, consider rocking motions, and make mothers feel welcome and supported by the community.

ARCHETYPE

Understanding Needs of Visible & Invisible Mums

CO-DESIGN

Co-design workshop

Co-design objectives

01
Validate findings 02
Co-design ideation 03
Engage ‘invisible moms’

Workshop activites

ICE-BREAKERBook-binding
Introduction & Ice-breaking

MAIN ACTIVITY“What makes you happy“
Collage-making & Story-sharing

FOLLOW-UPInquire Leisure Experience
1V1 Interview+Survey

Workshop Participants

MAIN PARTICIPANTS
6 mothers with young kids under 3 years old in Hounslow

COLLABORATING NGO
Creative Spaces London
Rachel Doherty, CSL Director

LIAISON
LBH Community Development Officer
Matthew Curtis

Collected ideas from mums...

Identifying Design Opportunities

01 Indoor Activities

Weather-adaptive and safe design solutions

Mothers worry about the safety of local green spaces and parks, and unpredictable weather makes outdoor activities difficult. Enhancing safety and weather-resistant facilities is crucial.

02 Social-Friendly Spaces

For family- and social-friendly spaces.

Small commercial streets lack family-friendly environments, mainly occupied by off-license liquor stores, takeaways, and betting shops. There's a need to transform these spaces for family and social use.

03 Ensuring Accessibility

Offer public accessibility and convenience.

Mothers often travel long distances for leisure due to inconvenient public transport. Optimizing local facilities and public transport access is essential. Need accessible and convenient design solutions.

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