Design Research for Instructional Graphics: A Focus on Fall Prevention Exercises for Older Adults

Falls are a major cause of injury in old age and the leading reason for loss of independence. Regular exercise lowers the risk of falls among the elderly. The elderly display little motivation towards exercise programs. The objective of this interdisciplinary research is to explore the role that design research can play in increasing seniors’ motivation towards exercise, by creating recommendations for engaging exercise instructions. In order to investigate the role of design elements in exercise instructions, mixed research methods were utilized. The key findings of this research include, figure representations; acknowledge the benefits of exercise; and take advantage of the positive opportunities for exercising while multi-tasking. The findings resulted in design recommendations for exercise instructions that, when applied, could enhance motivation towards physical activity. Designers may use the findings from this research study as a guide for designing instructional graphics that contribute to motivating seniors in fall prevention exercise.