The Well-Being Method

The products in our world shape the way we live. And every product, regardless of industry or scale, has the potential to affect our well-being. We created this method to answer one key question: How can we put well-being at the center of product design? Join us in creating products that support people at a deeper level. 

THE FRAMEWORK

Introducing the Periodic Table of Human Elements®

We utilize the Periodic Table of Human Elements®, a behavioral science framework developed at MIT, to evaluate how a product impacts people's overall well-being and the deeper value it can offer.

The Periodic Table consists of 20 human elements—building blocks of the deepest human needs and drivers of psychological well-being.

There are 4 steps. 

STEP 1

Explore the deeper story

Most product teams focus their efforts on researching surface-level behaviors and perfecting the surface-level experience. For instance, how can we decrease attrition in the onboarding process? Deeper differentiation arises from "scuba diving" into the underlying story and assessing the impact a product has on someone's broader life and well-being.

STEP 2

Uncover the human elements

After exploring the deeper story, it’s time to uncover the deeper patterns. This is where the Periodic Table of Human Elements comes in. It’s worth noting that multiple human elements will shape every product experience. This step is all about narrowing down to the elements that shape the deeper experience most.

STEP 3

Pinpoint related needs

While the human elements provide a powerful grounding for each product in deeper psychological well-being, designing for them can feel overwhelming due to their broad nature. Therefore, the next step is to pinpoint the specific needs that deliver on each human element. In other words, what needs, if satisfied, will fulfill the human element and promote well-being.

STEP 4

Design the future product

The last step is to turn your wellbeing-centered product strategy into a 3-Year Vision that will guide product efforts and help teams forge the path to deeper value.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER

THE RESULT

The products in our world shape the way we live.

By proactively designing for well-being, we can create products that leave people stronger, happier, and more fulfilled.

Stability Elements (1-10)

Stability elements—like control, social support, and self-worth—form the basic foundation for individuals to move beyond survival mode and attain psychological stability in their lives.

  • CONTROL

    the extent to which someone feels control over the events that affect their lives (Rotter, 1966)

  • PHYSICAL COMFORT

    the extent to which someone feels physically taken care of—at ease and relaxed

  • SAFETY

    the extent to which someone is protected from harm, danger, and injury

  • PRESENCE

    the extent to which someone feels immersed and attentive, free from distraction

  • RECIPROCAL SUPPORT

    the extent to which someone feels like a member of a mutual support dyad (Barrera, 1986)

  • FUNDAMENTAL RESPECT

    the extent to which someone feels accepted and appreciated, without judgment or disparagement

  • SHARED HISTORY

    the extent to which individuals or groups hold history, experiences, and memories together

  • SHARED SYSTEM

    the extent to which individuals or groups share a common context or operating system

  • SELF-WORTH

    the extent to which someone respects themselves and feels inherently valuable

  • SELF-EFFICACY

    the extent to which someone believes in their ability to successfully perform a task

Growth Elements (11-20)

Growth elements—like self-design, exploration, and play—build on a stable foundation and help individuals actively pursue happiness and meaning.

  • SELF-KNOWLEDGE

    the extent to which someone understands the uniquenesses and nuances of who they are as a person

  • SELF-DESIGN

    the extent to which someone actively shapes who they are as a person

  • MASTERY

    the extent to which someone deliberately builds their skills to further a craft

  • EXPLORATION

    the extent to which someone actively engages with new experiences, environments, or ideas

  • PURPOSE

    the extent to which someone applies there unique skills to create a direction for their life and an impact on the world

  • PLAY

    the extent to which someone engages in activities for pure enjoyment—with no practical goal or purpose

  • CREATIVITY

    the extent to which someone applies their imagination to create something new

  • HUMANITY

    the extent to which someone goes beyond themself and their immediate support network to care for others

  • PLANET

    the extent to which someone feels part of the natural world

  • UNIVERSE

    the extent to which someone feels connected to a greater order—something much, much bigger