In order to test the USAP design model, a study was
conducted with a focused group of elderly people. Two
different participatory design sessions (each consisting
of three groups) were held during the concept model
phase. The end-users were asked to participate in the
design process of doors and door handles for the house
that they want to age in, considering all their possible
requirements, needs, particular wishes and ideas. The
first author of this paper was the designer in this case
study. The participatory design sessions are conducted
within the scope of her doctoral dissertation (Demirbilek,
1999) at Bilkent University.