The Wellness
Design Lab
Enlightening everyday experience
through wellness practices.

Blair Muxiang Yu

Sunset at Namsan Tower, Seoul, Korea.

The Wellness Design Lab:
Enlightening everyday experience
through wellness practices.

by Blair Muxiang Yu

BDes, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, 2022

Thesis Supervisor: Dr. Katherine Gillieson
A critical and process documentation thesis paper submitted
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

MASTER OF DESIGN

emily carr university of art + design 2024

© blair muxiang yu, 2024

4

table of contents
07

Land Acknowledgment

09

Acknowledgment

10

Keywords

10

Glossary

11

Abstract

12

Introduction

12

My experience and the problem

15

What does wellness mean?

17

The talk with family, where everything began

21

Methodologies and explorations:

21

The auto-ethnographic design practice

43

Studio Practice:

47

The Participatory Research

48

Workshop survey

51

The workshop

59

Second survey

60

Summative Design exploration

65

Conclusion

67

End note

68

Bibliography

72

Appendix 1: REB

73

Appendix 2: Workshop and survey materials

74

Appendix 3: Wellness journal design, UI design

75

Appendix 4: Participatory workshop postcard design

5

6

Figure 1: View from Tunnel Bluffs, Squamish-Lillooet D, BC

land acknowledgement

T

his research has been conducted on the
unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish
people, the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh
(Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
This research also embeds rich embodiment and cultural
influence from stepping foot on lands across The UK,
China, and South Korea.
I am very grateful for the opportunities to visit these
beautiful lands and the possibilities these lands have
brought me and my work.
7

8

Figure 2: Stanley park, Vancouver, BC

acknowledgement

I would like to express my deepest gratitude
to all those who have supported me along my
research journey, and throughout my life.

To my parents, Xiaohui Li, Facheng Yu, and

Sadaf Asl Soleimani, and Charlie Liyang Zha

my grandparents Xiangfeng Yu, Decai Li for

for always unintentionally standing by my side

all the love and support, which otherwise

during the highs and lows. Words can’t express

without every one of you, this opportunity

how grateful I am for every one of you.

would have been impossible.

To KeunBeom Gil: Thank you for being my

To my supervisor Dr. Katherine Gillieson

motivation, for bringing me all the joy

who has always been the biggest guide to me

and for your consistent and unconditional love.

throughout my research journey. Thank you so
much for your endless support, encouragement
and inspiration.
To my internal Robin Mitchell-Cranfield:
Thank you for all the guidance, fresh
perspectives, informative insights,
and all your supportive words!
To all the faculty members and technicians
at Emily Carr, thank you for helping me
make my designs come to life.
To my best friends: Rachel Kim,
Natasha Funk, Anna Koo, Erik Asia,

To all my research participants for their
invaluable insights and time.
To Mother Nature: Thank you for providing
moments of solace and inspiration, opening
up your arms and letting me in. Thank you
for making me courageous and abundant.
To my dogs: Xiangxiang and Mocha for always
running towards me, and being a constant
source of joy and comfort for me.
To my 2024 cohorts: Thank you for the two
years we shared, wish all the best to everyone!

9

Figure 3: Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge Park, North Vancouver, BC

key words
•

Wellness

•

Communication Design

•

UX/UI Design

•

Nature

•

Interaction Design

•

Journalling

•

Ritual

•

Systems Design

•

Photography

•

Self-care

glossary
wellness:

In this research paper, wellness means an act of taking care

/ˈwelnəs/
noun

while practicing activities they truly enjoy doing.

of yourself and a state of happiness that people experience

un wellness:

In this thesis, the term unwellness does not refer to physical

un·​well·​ness
noun

experiences when lacking wellness practices, or temporary

and mental illness, but the feeling that an individual
stress from work/school.

10

abstract

This thesis research explores the topic of wellness from the post-secondary student
perspective in this post-pandemic era. It begins with the question: “How might the
practice of wellness become an accessible ‘tool’ to maximize everyday experiences
and foster a wellness-centred lifestyle?” This research aims to help people move
from lacking well-being to feeling well by promoting and embedding wellness
practices into everyday activities.
This thesis inquires into the practice of wellness from both an auto-ethnographic
lens and a participatory perspective. By documenting personal data and my
wellness journey through travelling, being outside and disconnecting from society,
the auto-ethnographic design experiment employs descriptive reflections,
photography and bookmaking. The participatory perspective includes gathering
insights from surveys and hosting participatory workshop activities with current
and recently graduated post-secondary students. This collected information is
then thematically analyzed, and published as a website with the research process.
By aligning the similarities from the two design experiments, the findings indicate
that reframing wellness as an un-privileged practice and embedding the wellness
mindset in everyday lives, could help balance negative emotions and maximize
everyday experiences. This led to the summative system design project:
The Wellness Design Lab care kit, which proposes to elevate daily experiences
through personalized wellness practices.

11

introduction

Figure 4: Illustration of a stressed student.

My experience and the problem:
Early adulthood — being in the early 20s —

In this semi-post-pandemic era, we are forced

feels magical, like anything can happen. But

to transition from a “pause” to an “un-pause”.

that very ‘magic’ means that people in early

Although the fear from the pandemic has

adulthood are also vulnerable to the anxiety

been left in the past, the feelings of

and unpleasantness of the unexpected and

unwellness, stress, anxiety, and depression

unfamiliar. The milestone of early adulthood

have been carried forward (Neustaeter, 2022).

can be a heavyweight that burdens younger

For many post-secondary students, these

generations with responsibility and loneliness.

emotions arise frequently and affect their

When we step into the stage of our life where

everyday behaviours heavily.

we must face the world alone, we need
12

dedication, strength, and support.

As students, we often have a hard time balancing our school and
our everyday lives. There are often too many priorities that we
have to focus on, while at the same time, many of us work hard
to meet every expectation that is landing on our shoulders.
Assignments, jobs, relationships, financial issues, etc... We find
ourselves constantly struggling with balancing our pace and
adjusting ourselves to changes as we transition out of the
pandemic era. During my undergrad and graduate school,
feeling stress is an emotion that I and many classmates
experience repeatedly. Occasionally, stress can provide students
with motivation for their studies, however, sometimes it can lead
to a serious situation where students are required to visit health
experts. As defined by Schimelpfening (2020), many individuals
cannot balance the stress they are experiencing, which might
affect their mental health and may also cause other psychological
disorders like depression.
The data collected from the article: Trends in Post-Secondary
Student Stress: A Pan-Canadian Study shows that 45.6% of
students experience high levels of stress, and 15.3% describe
their stress level as tremendous. There is also a high number of
students who express that they felt hopeless and anxious (Linden,
Stuart, Ecclestone, 2022). Based on these insights and
experiences, I decided to enter the journey of promoting the
importance of wellness to younger generations (20-30 years of
age) through communication and interaction design methods.
13

I began by framing my research through
“The Wellness Design Lab”, which aims to
Figure 5: Screenshot of texts on being stressed with friends on Instagram

shed light on the challenges of pursuing
wellness, identify gaps and needs while
practicing wellness, as well as understand
young adults’ current wellness experiences
in order to help them establish a healthier,
low-stress lifestyle. Some of the initial
questions asked of participants include:
1. What does wellness mean to you?
2. How has the pandemic affected
your wellness?
3. What holds you back from
practicing wellness?
4. What are your wellness methods or tips?
5. What do you pay the most attention
to in your life?
6. What are your top priorities?
7. What do you think you need to become
a better self?

14

What does Wellness mean?
The majority of Canadians have access to adequate food, and
people whose basic survival needs are met have the opportunity
to focus on health and wellness. Wellness refers to habits which
allow us to thrive, rather than merely surviving. I believe personal
health and wellness are the foundation of everything, the pursuit
of wellness is the basis of all happiness and anything we do in
life. From a student’s perspective, lack of well-being will affect
your attention to learning. According to the National Center for
Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of
Population Health, “well-being includes the presence of positive
emotions and moods (e.g., contentment, happiness), the absence of
negative emotions (e.g., depression, anxiety), satisfaction with life,
fulfillment and positive functioning” ( Milman, Tuckwiller, 2020).
Wellness is about how a person is feeling about themselves, the
pursuit of wellness should bring comfort, relaxation and joy. Wellness is deeply tied to one’s overall health, it is not just about one’s
physical well-being, but also in the scope of mental, emotional,
spiritual, social and environmental (Stoewen, 2017). To many
people, wellness can seem like a broad topic, but at the same time,
it is very personal and deeply tied to every one of us. It is about
being aware and making personal choices that lead toward an
outcome of optimal holistic health and well-being (Global
Wellness Institute, 2023).

15

Figure 6: The Kare Project final crochet design.

16

The talk with family, where everything began:
My thesis research journey was initiated by

the action of care becomes one-directional.

a conversation with my parents. In the first

Despite the critical definition, I want to find

year of my Master's degree, I worked on a

out what the word “care” means to different

co-design project with my parents.

individuals. Does care always mean good? If

The project is about the definition of “care”

so, how can we define good care?

in Chinese culture. Together, we co-designed

I reached out to my parent by starting the

9 crochet patterns (colours, amount of rows

conversation with a question: “What does ‘care’

to stitch, etc.) based on my parents’

mean to you?” Unlike in English, there is no

understanding of care.

direct translation of the word “care” in

A variety of crochet methods were used:
single, double, half-double crochet, and
puff stitches. Through making, I wanted

Chinese. I explained the word “care” as “providing attention (关心 care from the heart)”
and “providing love (关爱 care with love)”.

to capture their idea of care, and create a

Interestingly, both of my parents told me their

yarn-made tapestry/cloth to gift to my parents

definition of care is caring for others, and

and remind them that they are being cared

caring for the family. In their opinion, “care”

for by me too and that I am very grateful

is an unconditional action, but it is also a

for their care.

responsibility. They see care as caring for

The word ‘care’ means a lot of different things
to different people and in different cultures.
One definition from Oxford Languages
states that ‘care’ as a verb has the meaning of
looking after and providing for needs. When
thinking of the word care, the first thing that

the old, the young, the vulnerable, and the
environment, but not caring for themselves.
It was surprising to me that their answers
carry so much responsibility and selflessness,
and neither of them thought of care as caring
for themselves.

comes up in my mind is the act of sacrifice for

How can the idea of self-care be missing? How

another. It means giving out time and

will they continue to care for the family if they

attention to one party, providing love and

aren’t aware of their own wellness?

meeting their needs. The axis of care can be
multi-directional or reciprocal, but when I
speak about caring for someone/something,

I grew up in a very loving and traditional yet
open-minded Chinese family. Both of my
parents were born and raised in China

17

Figure 7: The Kare Project design process.

18

Figure 8: The Kare Project design process.

(Beijing and Qingdao). Growing up, one of the

(2000), Sarah B. Breathnach speaks about

most important family values that my parents

the two kinds of promises people like to make

taught me is “孝顺 Filial piety” which means

to themselves: the outer and the inner. Outer

to care and be respectful when around the

promises are the ones that we make to our

elderly. “Filial piety demonstrates the virtue

family and friends, and most of the time, we

of exhibiting the proper love and respect for

do it unconsciously. The inner promise is the

one’s parents, elders in general, and ancestors,

promise we make to our minds, bodies and

particularly within the context of Confucian,

spirits. That could be things that you enjoy

Chinese Buddhist, and Daoist ethics.” (Chan,

doing and promising yourself to make the

Tan, 2004) In Chinese, this term means to

time for it.

take care of your parents, grandparents, or
elders who are close to you. It is associated
with responsibilities and expectations that the
younger generation in the family will provide
love, respect, and any kind of support to them
to reciprocate back the hard work that elders
put in when raising the
children in the family. This ethical principle is
an invisible promise to the family, and the care

To my parents, “caring for others” is the
outer promise they made to themselves.
This conversation and this project pointed me
toward my journey and my thesis research on
self-care and wellness through communication
and interaction design practices and methods
(both physical and digital methods).

is unconditional. We were raised to believe that

The conversation with my parents about

by sacrificing our own time for other’s needs,

what care means strengthened my own

we should always be considerate of others

understanding of how I could care for myself.

above our own needs (Ritchie, 2022).

I would encourage everyone who can to

In my family, providing care is a promise.
In the book, Simple Abundance Companion

have a conversation about care with yourself
or your family.
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20

Figure 9: Winona Park, Vancouver, BC

methodologies & explorations

The auto-ethnographic design practice:
Auto-ethnographic research is a personal approach and
self-reflection to an experience. Through journaling, documenting
one’s experience, personal reflection on culture/experiences, etc.
The approach to auto-ethnography design research is closely tied
to an individual's creative expression. It is a practice where the
designer is interrogated into the topic, practicing it, examining it
and assessing it from a personal standpoint (Fuller, 2022).
As I have indicated, while wellness suggests thriving through
self-care, what constitutes wellness specifically, and what
practices a person employs to achieve it, varies from person to
person. For me, wellness practice means doing things that I truly
enjoy doing. Being able to concentrate on things that I am
passionate about helps erase the negative feelings within me. In
the book ‘My Life’s History’ (2015), Grandma Moses speaks about
the definition of self-love. Where truly loving yourself does not
mean sacrificing all your time and energy to strive for a successful
future, but giving the time to things you truly enjoy doing and
practicing them. The things we are passionate about will fill joy
and add excitement within our hearts, and that's what self-love
means (Moses, 2015).
One thing that brings me joy is being outside. Growing up, I
have always been a curious young girl who loves travelling and
exploring. The new experiences that come along with exploring
boost the feeling of wellness and excite every sense within me
(Brenneman, 2023). With that in mind, I began my auto-ethnographic wellness journey by exploring around Vancouver.
21

Figure 10: Snowshoeing views from Grouse Mountain, North Vancouver, BC

22

Figure 11: Sunset from Grouse Mountain, North Vancouver, BC

Figure 12: Mountain view from Grouse Mountain, North Vancouver, BC

December, 2022
I started my first snowshoeing experience with my best friend
from undergrad. I remember driving straight from school after
my work as a research assistant, I remember being deeply chaotic
with life that month, and I felt a lot of stress about the work that
was piling up at the end of the semester.
Carrying this ‘unwellness’, I arrived at the mountains.
Unlike the gloomy grey sky above the city of Vancouver, up on
the mountains, all I could see was pure white. The sky is
light-washed, and the air is moist, refreshing yet biting.
That very moment felt like a movie, a scene where Alice first
enters Wonderland. All the burden had been left behind with
the grey sky beneath my feet, what was in front of me was this
clear path covered with sparkling power, waiting for me to make
a new step.
2023 was the year that I committed myself to the wilderness.

23

24

Figure 13: A set of outdoor views around Vancouver , BC

May & June 2023, Canada
In May and June, I became extremely fascinated by the
outdoors. Running away from the hustle and bustle of the city
and work life, I decided to travel through the mountains.
Walking on the endless trails with muddy boots, stepping
through gleaming snow. Getting sunburned in between the
bushes, wearing sweaty shirts. Appreciating the fresh breeze,
becoming friends with the flowers, birds and trees, seeing
the breathtaking views on top of the mountains, and the
various forms of the clouds. I felt so small and vulnerable
within this environment, yet was struck by the feeling of
fullness and courage. In total, I explored 8 mountains in these
two months across the lower mainland, and have embodied
endless joy, states of well-being, and everlasting openness.
Being in the outdoors was my way of reclaiming freedom
and pursuing wellness in this post-pandemic world.

25

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Figure 14: Garibaldi Park , BC

27

28 Figure 15: Travel pictures from The UK.

July 2023: The UK: England & Scotland
Then it was July.
This month, I chose to practice escape as my wellness method.
Escaping from some of my top priorities on the 'survival' list: I
ended my research assistantship at the Health Design Lab, put
a pause on all of my school work, left my family in Vancouver
and went travel alone to the UK.
I walked along the coast of Scotland, fascinated by the unique
volcanic landscapes, and watched a sunset on the top of Portree
with boats railing afar in the oceans. Hiked the Arthur's seat
in Edinburgh in the pouring rain, and felt profoundly inspired
standing in front of the artworks that only appeared in art
history class before.
The meaning of travel is indescribable. It is an adventure, a
form of relaxation, a getaway. Being able to center all of my
attention on embracing new cultures and environments was
truly comforting, exciting and inspiring both mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Escaping from my own expectations of myself to travel alone
allowed me to step out from my everyday life to see other forms
of life. Knowing that at the end of the day, I am not returning
back to the society I am familiar with. Knowing that I am in
a foreign country where no one recognizes me, I no longer feel
that I am being constrained by these expectations. Deep down
within my heart, I could sense a feeling of greatness arose from
this escape. As if a new me is rising from the ashes, this new
me standing opposed to my old self, telling me that I could be
myself at this very moment, or not be myself if I so choose.

29

30

Figure 16: Travel pictures from The UK.

Figure 17: Travel pictures from The UK.

31

32

Figure 18: Arthurs Seat, Scotland, UK..

33

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Figure 19: Travel pictures from China and Korea.

Figure 20: Sunset at Namsan Tower, Seoul, Korea.

September & October 2023: China, Korea
September and October are the months for gathering.
At the end of September, I had the chance to visit Beijing and
several surrounding cities. Spending time with and exploring
familiar places with loved ones was another form of wellness
that I encountered. As many people say: Home is where
families are. The sense of solidity and security I felt by being
around my family is something I have never experienced
while travelling alone.
35

36
Figure 21: Namsan Tower, Seoul, Korea.
Korea

37
Figure 22: Streetview in Seoul, Korea.

With the opportunity to visit places around

The intention of this auto-ethnographic piece

the globe, I captured my journeys in a wellness

is not to suggest readers follow the steps I took

journal titled “Tranquillity 人生若寄”.

and/or stay outside to find wellness, but to feel

Tranquillity is the quality or state of being

a sense of calmness, to slow down, and to

free from agitation of mind or spirit; free

feel inspired and supported by the things I

from turmoil (Oxford Language, 2024).

captured on this wellness journey.

This journal is a summary of my auto-ethno-

This research experiment made me realize

graphic practice of finding peace in this chaotic

the potential of carrying wellness practices

world. This project is inspired by a Chinese

into the everyday, not just pursuing wellness

poetry book I read "星期六晚我们去散步吧

through vacation. By carrying the mindset of

(Saturday Night, let’s Go for a Walk )".

wellness throughout every experience, waking

Without directly approaching the issue/story,

up to it, thinking about it, making time for it,

the author uses metaphors and forms of sto-

practicing it, and reflecting on it. Our hearts

rytelling to address the pain points that exist

will be filled with joy through this self-love and

among younger Chinese generations (隔花人

self-bonding. The mindset of seeking wellness

Gehuaren, 2023). The wellness journal con-

from the simplest thing we do will make a big

tains a series of photos captured throughout

change in the overall experience.

2023, along with descriptive writing (in both
Chinese and English) that I wrote on the voyage of reclaiming freedom and finding wellness
by being outside (Canada, The UK, China,
and Korea). It is structured into two chapters:

To those who are feeling overwhelmed in this
chaotic world:

Roofless Places, and Forms of Life. Roofless

Hope you can find where your heart belongs,

Places contains a collection of thoughts and

overcome obstacles, travel across mountains

images documented by being in the wilderness;

and seas, find your tranquillity and lastly,

Forms of Life speaks to my wellness relation-

discover your true self.

ship with people I interacted with, the culture
I was surrounded by, and the society I was
embraced in during my visits. (You can view
the full-text journal in Appendix 3, pg. 74)
38

As I write in the wellness journal, Tranquillity:

Figure 23: Pages from the Wellness Journal Project.

39

Figure 24: Spreads from the Wellness Journal Project.

40

Figure 25: Spreads from the Wellness Journal Project.

41

Figure 25: The Voyage Game

42

Studio Practice: The Voyage
The Voyage, a project undertaken in 1st year

•

Day 2 cards are personal questions that

studio (Fall 2022), is a wellness-centered game

reveals your personality. These are ques-

design that aims to bridge the missed connec-

tions that players would ask someone who

tion between yourself and others. It is designed

they have already known. (friends, co-work-

to help the players get to know themselves

ers, etc.)

through answering the prompts while getting
to know others as they respond to the prompts.

•

the players to reflect on their values in life,

Getting to know someone (including yourself)

and uncovers vulnerability. These questions

is like a voyage. As if you are travelling to a

are designed for people who have already

new place, the sense of familiarity with this
new environment builds slowly as time progresses. Same as getting to know someone, it

established a strong bond.
•

Players are able to ask any question that

journey of getting to know someone, the game
stories and vulnerability.
Inside the game, you will find a card set with
a total of 53 prompts (5 card sets), 6 sets of
puzzles (99 pieces) for journey building, and
stickers as giveaways for other participants.

Question cards are expandable prompt
cards that comes right after each Day.

takes time to develop comfort and trust. In this
invites people to bond through sharing their

Day 3 cards are deep questions that help

corresponds to the same level of prompts.
•

Action Cards are cards that help to connect
and build trust through simple actions.

The experience of playing this game with two
of my friends was exciting and informative.
Knowing them both for a few years, we were
still able to uncover many new things about

3 levels of prompt cards with 2 sets of

each other by answering the prompts. We

support cards:

found ourselves expanding on the existing

•

Day 1 cards are a set of introductory questions that help the plays to feel comfortable
with the other players. This set of cards can
be used in icebreaker activities with people
just encountered.

prompts while sharing more personal stories.
Overall, the value of this game was to bring
people together and create meaningful/personal conversations for the players to build a
stronger connection.
43

44

Figure 26: The Voyage Game assets.

Figure 27: The Voyage Game.

45

Figure 28: The participatory workshop postcards.

46

The participatory design practice:
“Participatory design is a collaborative design

to ourselves. Reflecting on my own experience,

approach that involves end-users in the design

I am also one of the people who will not listen

process. It aims to create products and services

to other's past experiences until I experience

that better meet the needs and expectations of

it myself. I used to prioritize my school work

users by applying their knowledge and experi-

more than my personal health, which has led

ences.” (Interaction Design Foundation-IxDF,

me through a difficult time with eating.

2023)

I wasn’t able to realize the importance of

Ever since I was a child, I have always been

wellness until I learned it the hard way.

obsessed with stories. To me, stories carry

To better understand people's lived experience

many possibilities and wonders. It is a way for

with wellness, I decided to host a creative par-

me to encounter different forms of life. Regard-

ticipatory workshop with young adults (20-30

less of their authenticity, stories stay within my

years old). The participatory design method is

memories like a guidepost, leading me toward

a great way to gather people who bring their

new directions. Hearing other's stories was one

own expertise, to share their experience

of my favourite things to do. Especially from

collectively. This approach creates possibilities

people who are older than me, listening to their “to gain access to the experiencer’s world
life experiences, and taking note of the detours

only through his/her participation in

they took in life inspires me with how I would

expressing that experience” (E. Sanders, U.

go about things in mine.

Dandavate, 2019).

One of the key points that came up in my ini-

In this participatory workshop, each indi-

tial conversations with people about wellness

vidual is the expert of their own experience.

is that everyone is aware of its importance, its

To minimize the hierarchy within a group,

benefits, and the changes it will make to their

the workshop was only open to past and cur-

current lives, but the majority of people are not

rent students, without any faculty attending.

practicing wellness (e.g., the activities of their

Through this workshop, I hoped to hear about

choice that will improve their wellness). We

individual stories as well as forming a small

all have a great understanding of what will be

communities for connection building, and I

beneficial for our wellness, but because of other

hope this workshop could help participants

priorities that we value in life (career, fam-

reflect and realize the importance of wellness

ily, etc.), many of us choose to push wellness

and begin practicing it.

practices aside, and/or not leave enough time

47

Workshop survey
In order to have a better understanding of individuals’ wellness
relationships prior to the workshop, I created a Wellness Design
lab survey on Google Forms and sent it across social media
platforms (Instagram stories, Whatsapp group chats etc.)
over the month of August in 2023 to reach to both current
and past students.
This survey contains a total of 16 questions, centred around
young adults’ current wellness journey. These questions aim to
create a better understanding of the experience young adults are
having with work/life balance and their wellness stories during
and post the pandemic. Gathering initial insights on participants’
definitions of wellness, wellness methods that they are practicing,
struggles that they underwent, particular needs for wellness
and more.
The survey reached a total of 24 participants aged from
21 to 33 years old, both current students and full-time
workers (recent graduates).

From the Wellness Design Lab survey, 45.8% (n=11/24) are
current master’s students. 33.3% (n=8/24) are recently graduated
students. 12.5% (n=3/24) are current undergraduate students.
8.3% (n=2/24) are not students.
48

To many survey participants, wellness means

work: “Balanced [life]. It is really hard to

a balance of work, life and relationships.

achieve it, especially at a time when we’re

It means taking care of yourself in any

always busy and don’t have time for ourselves.

possible way and it is about feeling optimistic

So for me, wellness is also having some time to

and happy. 91.6% (n=22/24) of the participants

relax, meditate, cook, play, take a comfortable

associate wellness with mental health, and

bath or just do nothing (something really hard

with self emotions. One of the participants

to understand in our busy minds).”

responded the definition of wellness means:
“To take care of oneself (me/you) mental
and physical needs with affection and
gratitude, prioritize oneself needs, even if
it’s regarded as weird/cold-distancing or
selfish. We are responsible for the outcomes
of our own choices and actions, so better
start loving yourself.”

From the survey, many participants expressed
that work/school is taking up most of their
time in their life ( Work 70.8%, School 37.5%)
followed by financial issues 50%, and
relationships 33.3%. It is unexpected to see
the health category ranked in the second
last section before Other.

To some participants, wellness also means
practicing activities that we enjoy doing, and
finding times to take breaks in between
49

50

Figure 29: The participatory workshop.

The participatory workshop
After having an understanding of what wellness relationships
and definitions mean to the young adults that I reached out
to, and based on the insights collected from the survey, I then
invited 11 participants to The Wellness Design Lab workshop,
both current students and recent graduates. The purpose of
this workshop is to understand first-hand experience on
wellness through creative and storytelling methods. As well as
asking participants about their wellness journey during and
post the pandemic.
The workshop was approved by the Research Ethics Board at
Emily Carr University and it was about 2 hours and 30 minutes
long. As the workshop facilitator, I began by asking participants
to write down their names on paper stands, and draw a doodle
that represents their feeling of that day. This icebreaker activity
aims to get participants to feel comfortable and safe around
the workshop space and to prepare them for a mental space
for reflecting upon their current wellness experience for later
activities in the workshop.
The second workshop activity contains ten postcard-style
prompt cards that invite participants to share their current
experience with school/work/life/wellness. Each participant
receives a pack of ten postcards containing question prompts
for the workshop, and as takeaways to keep, or to pass on
to others in need. The questions used in the workshops are
inspired by the book Sample Abundance Companion by
Breathnach, Sarah B. (2000), and the survey data gathered
from participants.
51

Figure 30: The participatory workshop invitation and stickers..

52

1. Wellness experience during the

many to learn to prioritize personal health,

pandemic: Workshop participants pointed

as one participant shared: “My wellness is

out several wellness issues during the

much better now in comparison, which I

pandemic that are related to mental well-

am proud of because it became a goal for

ness, physical wellness, and environmental

me. I try to take the time to focus on my

wellness. Participants expressed that

wellness and well-being. Just taking time

mental health was a huge issue during the

for myself and focusing on how I feel and

pandemic era. Many pointed out their emo-

taking care of myself. It was hard to imag-

tion was under control from being struck

ine being more mentally healthy during the

at home, while some had limited personal

Pandemic, but I feel like I have been able to

space living with their family members.

work towards it.”

One participant shared: “During the pandemic, that's when I realized my mental
health was not at its best. I did feel trapped,
I felt no connection to the world including
family and friends. I felt like I got in touch
with feelings I never thought I’d feel.”
The societal negativity and having to adapt
to new ways of living was another unwellness that was expressed in the workshop.
A participant told me: “So many things
in the world were changing quickly and
it was hard to adjust. There was also so
much negativity in the news and online
that caused me to feel even more negative.
Covid made me feel kind of like a pandemic
is my wake-up call to prioritize my health,
especially since university life added so
much anxiety and stress.”

3. Wellness definitions: Wellness definitions
vary from person to person, it could be
an emotion, it means relaxation, it means
practicing the activities that one enjoys
doing, it means slowing down and focusing
on the contemporary, it is about self-understanding and self-love. From the workshop,
some participants spoke about wellness as
a joyful emotion that emerges while doing
preferred activities, or being around loved
ones. “Wellness right now is love for me.
Being cared for by my partner, spending
time with them and completely forgetting
about work and school. It’s only about care
and feelings, not about thoughts.”
Some participants shared that wellness
means focusing on the contemporary, not
feeling guilty about relaxing, and taking a

2. Wellness post-pandemic: Many partic-

break whenever the body or the mind gives

ipants find their wellness has improved

out the physical signs. It is about self-love

compared to during the pandemic. The

and self-understanding.

experience through the pandemic raised
personal awareness of self-care, pointing

53

Figure 31: The participatory workshop.

54

4. Promises to self: Promises to self could be personal desires
that one truly enjoys doing or self-expectations that one puts
on. Workshop participants shared a variety of promises made
to themselves including health-related promises, career/
personal growth promises, activity-related promises, etc.
However, some find it difficult to accomplish these promises
due to limited free time and laziness. One participant says
in the workshop: “I have thought of learning a new skill, but
I know myself... I’d start something and I will stop midway...
Sometimes I stop because I look down on my ability to make
something or laziness takes over my life. This is something I
need to work on.” Another participant shared: “I wanted to
improve my book Art/book-making skill, but I stopped binding books after the first try, because I was lazy.”
Many participants discover that they are always unintentionally making promises that lay in the self-expectations category.
These promises often began with the phrase “I should do… or
I have to…”. Examples shared in the workshop were learning
new software that will benefit future career roles, reading
more books related to their studies, and doing exercise daily
to keep fit. “I promised myself a lot, it feels sad that I won’t be
able to do it. It’s hard not to be hard on myself.”
5. Rewards to self: A few things that participants share that
cheer them up are taking breaks from work/school, spending
quality time with loved ones, and treating themselves with
purchases and good meals.
55

56
Figure 32: The participatory workshop collages..

6. Favourite memories and joyful moments: For many participants, joyful moments are the key to wellness. It is the time
when one feels the greatest and most relaxed. Participants
shared that spending time with family and friends is most
joyful. From the workshop, we heard: “My mom took me
shopping when I was younger, and [during] my recent trip
back home, she took me shopping and it brought out the little
girl in me.”
Some participants also shared that their joyful moment also
relates to big milestones in life, for example receiving offers
from grad school and entering new chapters in their life. One
participant shared that: “The first thing that comes to mind
[that I feel the most joyful] is after graduating from Bachelors. | felt so much relief that it was finally over. Once I finally
finished it felt like I finally could start living my life the way
I wanted to and do the things I wanted to do. Besides that,
I think of random moments with my friends and family where
we had fun or laughed or felt memorable. I think of moments
when I was younger too and in my childhood. It makes
me think of when things were easier and there was less
to worry about.”
In part 2 of this workshop, participants are asked to re-imagine
their ideal wellness experience in the form of collages or doodling.
Page 56 documents some beautiful works from participants.
After the workshop was hosted, a Wellness Design Lab website:
https://yumuxiang69.wixsite.com/wellnessdesignlab summarizing both the participatory workshop and the auto-ethnographic
research experiment was created as an open source for audiences
from outside of Emily Carr University to access. This website is
designed for people with aligned interests to connect or as a guide
for people who want to begin a wellness journey but don’t know
where to begin.

57

58

Second survey
This survey was sent out on the Emily Carr University campus
during the Open Studios event (Nov. 2nd, 2023). This second
survey aimed to collect insights on ways that people identify the
feeling of lacking wellness, and methods that they practice to
improve their wellness. It was designed and printed on paper with
4 questions inquiring about the age, the occupation (students or
faculty or other), multiple choice on ways to identify the feeling of
lacking wellness, and a ranking list with a variety of activities for
emotion improving when feeling unwellness.
1. Methods to identify the feeling of unwellness: Out of 9 participants, 8 people state that they identify the feeling of being
unwellness through signs of the body. 8 people identify the
feeling of unwellness through emotions that they are experiencing. 3 people through the lack of engagement, 2 people
with mental/spiritual struggles, and 1 person identified with
the environment they might be in.
2. Methods/activities that will improve your feelings: Out of the
12 options, doing exercise seems to be the most popular activity that people would do when feeling unwellness, followed up
by entertainment (2nd), sleep (3rd), being in nature (3rd), and
Talking/being with people (family, friends, pets,etc.) (3rd).
59

60

summative design exploration
Through understanding the findings from both auto-ethnographic research and participatory research, I began my
summative design project which aims to reframe wellness as an
accessible and un-privileged practice for the everyday. The goal for
this summative design is to integrate wellness into daily routines
and promote to young adults the mindset of carrying wellness
throughout each experience. To better explain my design concepts, I created a user profile and scenario to illustrate how this
design piece functions, based on insights collected from the participatory workshop.

Understanding concepts through scenarios: Being mindful
of wellness practices through busy work/school life
Amy is a 25-year-old international grad student in Vancouver,
BC. Outside of school, she has a part-time job at a retail brand.
She is often stressed out about her financial situation and her
school work. She seeks to find a work/life balance, but it has been
difficult for her. She notices a few challenges hindering her overall
well-being:
•

Work Dominating Personal Life: Amy felt that she had been
prioritizing her career more than her personal life. As a young
adult new to the industry, she thinks she should always say yes
to opportunities. She constantly feels stressed about not getting work done, which has been affecting her productivity and
motivation.

61

Amy’s primary goals are:
•

A large amount of time spent on the
Phone: Amy realizes she's spending a great

•

find the time in life to practice her hobbies,

amount of time daily on her phone. The

and potentially build connections with

first thing she does when she wakes up is to
check on social media. Going on the phone
and checking out the feeds is her way of
taking a break from work. She finds that
her phone has become a huge part of her
everyday life, and it has been difficult for
her to not use it. Due to the large amounts
of time spent online, she felt lazy to practice
other hobbies during her free time.
•

Minimum Relaxation Time: Amy is a
full-time student and a part-time retail
worker. Often, she has a very packed schedule. It is difficult to take the time to relax
and take breaks in life parallel with the
assignments and work she committed to.
She finds it complex to balance the stress
from work/school, leaving her feeling
exhausted and drained.

•

Lack of Motivation for Hobbies: Amy
enjoys hiking and crafting but with the
laziness and lack of connections she has in
the city, she finds it hard to practice activities of her passion. She usually takes breaks
by being in the online space, and browsing
social media. One main thing that has
stopped her from pursuing her hobbies is
the amount of preparation and organiza-

62

tion she needs to put in for the activities.

Achieving Work-Life Balance: She wants to

communities with the same interests.
•

Amy understands that it is hard to stay
away from accessing her phone, but she
wants to find a more meaningful way with
her phone during breaks, not just browsing
through social media feeds.

While she has been struggling, she discovered
the Wellness Design Lab Care Kit. In this care
kit, Amy has access to the Wellness Design
Lab app and a set of sensory objects (clay, soap,
essential oil, etc.).
In the Wellness Design Lab app, Amy will be
going through a set of questions to set up her
profile. Through her answers, the app will
gain a basic understanding of Amy’s wellness
goals, the ways she defines her unwellness, and
possible activities and wellness methods that
align with her interests. On the main page
of the app, Amy is able to track her everyday
moods, receive suggestions on the activities of
her interest and potentially lead her to practice
activities in real life rather than spending her
time on her phone. The app will only be used
as a guide to jumpstart activities that help
create a state of happiness for users to balance
temporary work/school stress.

Figure 33: The Wellness Design Lab Care Kit overview.

In the Wellness Design Lab app, Amy will be

goals, daily routines, and possible activities

asked to go through a set of questions to set

and wellness methods that align with

up her profile. Through her answers, the app

her interests.

will gain a basic understanding of her wellness

63

On the main page of the app, Amy can track

also able to create a reminder for activities and

her everyday moods, receive suggestions on

more. The app will only be used as a guide to

the activities of her interest and potentially

jumpstart activities that help create a state

lead her to practice activities in real life rather

of happiness for users to balance temporary

than spending her time on her phone. She is

work/school stress.

In the app, Amy can also connect with her
friends, to see other’s wellness journeys, or to
chat with the app AI Welly.

64

In the Wellness Design Lab kit, I will be embedding user-customizable
sensory artifacts like handmade soap, fragrance bags, and things that
are part of the everyday life to remind people of calmness and wellness
throughout their day. In the interview with Japanese designer Kenya Hara
on Typeradio (2020), He spoke about the importance of embedding
senses in designs and technology. He explains that when design allows
people to access all their senses it brings them peace and therefore brings
peace to the world. Sight is not solitary, design needs to include all senses
combined (Hara, Müller, 2007). Our senses are also associated with
memories. Scents, textures, colour, weight, temperature, shape, and
sound, all enlighten different stories and emotions from people to people.
The sensory artifacts in this care kit not only act as a reminder for people
to practice their wellness but also as a tool to remind people of the joyful
moments in the past.
One of Amy’s passions is heading into the mountains and hiking. So in her
customized care kit, Amy can find a bar of sandy textured handmade soap
with the scent of fresh forest, and pressed florals. These artifact hopes to
create a sense of calmness while she’s at work, and throughout her day.
65

66

conclusion

This exploratory design research invests in the topic of wellness through a series of practices and methods. As the design
researcher, I don't claim to offer medical expertise in the physical
or mental health area, rather my thesis’s focus is on wellness —
which I've defined as a state of happiness that people experience
while practicing activities they truly enjoy doing. In my practice,
I recognize the limitation of the research data collected only
covers a small scope of students and that might not be applicable
to every young adult’s scenarios. However, setting up case studies,
understanding the struggles participants undergo in their everyday lives in the participatory workshop, and my personal wellness
journey, helped me realize the importance of carrying the mindset
of wellness throughout every experience.
For the next step of this research, I aim to look into promoting
this wellness kit to Emily Carr University’s student wellness
services. Currently, there is a student wellness program in the
university during specific hours that includes: cook&connect,
skillshare workshop, wellness breakfast (grab and go), dog therapy, etc. But outside of these hours, many students are responsible
for managing their wellness. It will be beneficial to include
services like the Wellness Design Lab kit for students to access
whenever they need to.
I hope by creating the Wellness Design Lab kit, the audiences can
use it as a wellness guide and life-coaching support through the
magical but uncertain period of early adulthood.

67

68

end note

7

Life is not measured by time,
but measured by moments.
Some are big, but most are small.
— Armin Houman

-

69

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73

appendix 1: research ethics approval

PANEL ON
RESEARCH ETHICS

TCPS 2: CORE

Navigating the ethics of human research

Certificate of Completion
This document certifies that

Blair Yu
has completed the Tri-Council Policy Statement:
Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans
Course on Research Ethics (TCPS 2: CORE)
Date of Issue:

74

11 September, 2020

appendix 2: workshop and survey materials
1. How would you describe your wellness

made to others and kept at the cost of your

during the pandemic (2019-2022) How

own desires (during school/work)? Were

would you describe your wellness now? Has

you happy about these promises? Did you

anything changed?

mean to make that promise? And what

2. Wellness can be anything that makes you
feel good about yourself, that includes

made you grant your time and energy to
that promise?

giving yourself time, space, attention, etc.

6. Was it hard to say no to a promise? How do

What does wellness currently look like for

you feel when you said no, or how do you

you?

feel when you didn’t say no?

3. Wellness also includes making promises

7. Flashback to your favourite memories, what

to ourselves, it could be reading a book

comes to mind first? When did you feel

that you’ve been wanting, starting a new

most joyful?

routine, or learning how to crochet... what
are some promises you have made to yourself? Did you keep them? How did you
keep them, or what stops you from keeping
them?
4. Did you promise yourself a lot of “I have
to..” or “I should..” during school/work life?
What is one promise that you can reward
yourself with?

8. What is one action that you are afraid of
taking? Or what is something you are worrying about at the moment in your life?
9. What is one song that comforts you? brings
you joy and warmth? or a song you love?
What story does this song hold?
10. What do you want to tell yourself? Write
yourself a postcard.

5. Oftentimes, we put others’ priorities above
ourselves. What are some promises you

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appendix 3: wellness journal design, ui design

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appendix 4: participatory workshop
postcard design

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The Wellness Design Journal: Tranquillity

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The Participatory Workshop Asset

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