Resident survey and interview Before the interview and prepared questionnaire phase, I contacted the property manager of the Jilin Grocery Worker Housing, Shouping Chen, who has worked for 15 years at the complex. According to Shouping, the residents live in the middle or lower class due to lower pension fees. The residents are currently in a difficult situation. Residents are dissatisfied with current living conditions but they lack the funds to buy a new apartment or the ability to repay loans to do so. Moreover, Jilin Grocery Worker Housing is located in the city center, which means if builders are interested in investing in this area, the property owner can sell their property for a great price. However, due to the property market downturn, residents are stuck in this complex. I prepared some questions about how my design might be relevant, but also to gather more information about the residents’ lifestyles. This helped me get a deeper understanding of the user group from different angles. For example, what's your daily routine like? How would you describe your current situation? Do you feel satisfied? What potential needs do you have, or what aspects of your living standard could be improved? How can design help? What does happiness mean to you? Have you been to a coffee shop or bubble tea shop? ... Shouping said that Spring Festivals are the busiest time for the community, so the interview time was set for the Chinese New Year, February 12, 2022. Most families choose to spend this time with their loved ones. The interview was assisted by Yingying Zhang.
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