Description:

Pass it On is a pack of conversation prompt cards used to guide an open discussion about end-of-life planning.

People are not having conversations about the end of their lives. When someone passes away there is a lot to organise, whether it is writing a will or wanting a specific song to be played at a farewell, decisions need to be passed on. If wishes are not made clear before that happens, it makes it a lot harder for those who are left grieving. There is no way to measure a ‘good death’ or a ‘bad death’ but there are ways to measure the ease, comfort, and positivity of experience with the process. Impacting family, friends and the person themselves, I saw a call to action to redesign how we approach this experience.

I set out to design a tool to help introduce and guide someone’s first conversation about end of life planning. Following human-centred processes meant I was able to put my user and their needs at the forefront of this proposal. With empathy being the core value for my project consistent reading, talking and learning from the user were vital cornerstones in creating the final product.

I found that users wanted a tangible item that offered bite-sized and manageable prompts to help guide a difficult conversation. The card format engaged users in a way that enabled personal connection beyond the use of the product itself. The size and material quality of the cards mean that they can be reproduced and disseminated easily and impact a wide range of users.

I see this project not as a final solution, but as the start of a much wider conversation. How we deal with death is a challenge that everyone in our world will experience. During my research, it became clear that many of the current options we are given at the end of one’s life are restrictive, expensive, and old-fashioned. I would love to see this project taken further and I can see larger opportunities developing in response. I am excited to see a discussion about better ways of dying continued.