An eco-service design framework for sustainable collective living support system: toward human well-being and ecological transitions

In response to ecological sustainability and resource challenges, this study proposes an Eco-Service Design (ECO-SD) framework for university dormitories, as essential collective living spaces, with the goal of aligning human well-being and ecological transition. The framework consists of four stages: (1) Eco-Service Exploration to identify ecological values and user needs; (2) Eco-Service Visualization using service blueprints to identify barriers and potential impacts; (3) Eco-Service Ideation through KJ clustering, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Quality Function Deployment (QFD), Function Behavior Structure (FBS) modeling, and co-creation workshops to generate multifunctional solutions; and (4) Eco-Service Assessment using Heart Rate Variability (HRV), Pleasure-Arousal-Dominance (PAD) emotional analysis, Sustainability Design-Orienting (SDO) assessment, and ECO-SD evaluation. The experimental validation, combining HRV measurement and PAD emotional analysis, showed that the proposed Eco-Service-based design increased SDNN and RMSSD while reducing LF/HF, indicating greater emotional stability and relaxation. Participants reported a joyful emotional state, confirming the design’s positive impact on emotional well-being. The SDO and ECO-SD evaluation also demonstrated strong sustainability performance, validating the framework's ecological and service effectiveness. This interdisciplinary approach offers a replicable methodology for sustainable innovation in the design of collective living support systems and contributes to the broader discourse on ecological transition.