The liquid drop model applied to the designer´s dilemma of "getting under the skin" of old users

Instead of discussing existing design methods that aim at bridging or annihilating gaps between users and designers, we want to highlight an approach for designers that helps us increase reflexivity of what is beyond our grasp when interacting with users. The first steps are to become aware of the gaps, identify them, and then manage them. This emphasises and makes visible to both parties the existing differences in conceptions. The tension between these differences is considered to be the potential for mutual learning which benefits future design processes involving the same communities of practice. This will be exemplified by four cases relevant for designers and implemented in the area of ageing and design.