Short answer
Design integrated support systems and flexible structures that enable individuals to successfully manage dual career paths, recognizing that holistic support is key to individual success and well-being.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- Dykinson eBooks (2023)
- Method
- Literature Review and Case Study Analysis
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Supporting athletes in balancing their sports and academic/professional lives leads to improved overall well-being and potentially better performance in both domains. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Dykinson eBooks. Using Literature review and case study analysis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Design integrated support systems and flexible structures that enable individuals to successfully manage dual career paths, recognizing that holistic support is key to individual success and well-being.
Dual Career Pathways for Athletes Enhance Well-being and Performance
Supporting athletes in balancing their sports and academic/professional lives leads to improved overall well-being and potentially better performance in both domains.
Dykinson eBooks · 2023
Key Findings
- 01Sport is recognized as a significant cultural, social, and economic phenomenon.
- 02There is a need for cooperation among institutions to overcome challenges in combining sport with education/work.
- 03Developing structured dual career paths is crucial.
- 04Exchanges of best practices are beneficial at various levels.
Application
Design takeaway
Design integrated support systems and flexible structures that enable individuals to successfully manage dual career paths, recognizing that holistic support is key to individual success and well-being.
How to apply
When designing programs for athletes, consider incorporating elements of academic advising, career counseling, and flexible scheduling that acknowledges their sporting commitments.
Project actions
- 01Consider the user's multiple roles and responsibilities when designing.
- 02Investigate how different aspects of a user's life might interact and influence each other.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Addresses a recognized need for support in a specific user group.
- +Draws on a range of academic and practical experiences.
Limitations
The research might not cover all types of sports or all educational/professional paths, and the effectiveness of support can vary greatly depending on individual circumstances.
Reliability & validity
The reliability and validity would depend on the rigor of the literature review and the representativeness of the case studies and practical experiences cited.
Think critically
To what extent can support systems for dual careers be standardized, and where is personalization most critical?
Design Principles
"Holistic Support Integration: Design solutions that address the interconnected needs of individuals across multiple life domains."
Designers and organizations involved in sports, education, and professional development must consider the holistic needs of individuals. Creating integrated support systems acknowledges that success in one area can be hindered by neglect in another, leading to more sustainable and fulfilling career trajectories.
What This Means for Your Design
It's important to help athletes balance their sports with school or jobs, because this makes them happier and can even make them better at both.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the need for user-centered design approaches that consider the full context of a user's life, not just a single activity.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to design, particularly when catering to individuals with multiple significant commitments. By understanding the challenges faced by student-athletes in balancing their sporting and academic/professional lives, designers can develop more effective and supportive solutions that acknowledge the interconnectedness of these domains.
Source
Dykinson eBooks
A holistic approach to the dual career of the student-athlete
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about dual career pathways for athletes enhance well-being and performance?
- Design integrated support systems and flexible structures that enable individuals to successfully manage dual career paths, recognizing that holistic support is key to individual success and well-being. Evidence: Dykinson eBooks (2023).
- Why does "Dual Career Pathways for Athletes Enhance Well-being and Performance" matter for design?
- Designers and organizations involved in sports, education, and professional development must consider the holistic needs of individuals. Creating integrated support systems acknowledges that success in one area can be hindered by neglect in another, leading to more sustainable and fulfilling career trajectories.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Design integrated support systems and flexible structures that enable individuals to successfully manage dual career paths, recognizing that holistic support is key to individual success and well-being.
- What were the main findings?
- Sport is recognized as a significant cultural, social, and economic phenomenon.. There is a need for cooperation among institutions to overcome challenges in combining sport with education/work.. Developing structured dual career paths is crucial.. Exchanges of best practices are beneficial at various levels.
- What research method was used?
- Literature Review and Case Study Analysis.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Dykinson eBooks.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing programs for athletes, consider incorporating elements of academic advising, career counseling, and flexible scheduling that acknowledges their sporting commitments.
- What are the limitations?
- The focus is primarily on the European context, and specific practical implementation details for diverse global settings may require further investigation.