User and Society
The user, whether it be human or non-human, is central to the design process. The ultimate goal of a designer is to have a positive impact upon this group, and improve their current state. Hence it is vital to understand the user and the context around them, in order to make the most effective design.
Analysis of Bad Design
An aspect of a project that reflects this expertise area, is the product selection conducted during the Human Factors course, which aimed to identify common household items which serve as good examples of ‘bad design’. This was done through the lens of the course, which focuses on creating artifacts and systems which enhance the brain's ability to perform tasks. Simply put, it is an approach to design that makes the most out of one's skills set, and truly establishes a conversation between product and user. In order to decide which product deserves a redesign, every student was tasked to select three items to analyze their shortcomings, categorizing the issue, and suggesting possible improvements. In my case, I made sure to look at a variety of systems which ranged from, the physical interface of a microwave, the handle of a window, and drain cover. All had clear pitfalls, some of which only became apparent once placed in their intended context, which significantly reduced the quality of interaction I had with them. While none of my objects were ultimately selected for the group project, taking this systematic approach to design thinking was one that I believe captures the essence of this expertise area.
Systems selected as examples of ‘bad design’
Introduction to the findings of the user test.
User Tested Results
Furthermore, in order to fully comprehend the hurdles within the interaction that could use possible improvements, a user test was conducted. In my group's case we had selected a plastic dish soap bottle, one who’s cap does allow it to stand upside down in order to get the soap from the bottom, but by doing so reduces the stability of the product making it more prone to falling. What this means is that the user needs to essentially balance the bottle while doing dishes, which only becomes more difficult with wet surfaces and slippery soapy hands. While ‘failing’ in the interaction does not directly lead to any harm or disturbance to the user, it is a common enough frustration that many users endure on a near daily basis. Hence, the user study put six participants, of varying ages, within this context and we observed how they dealt with the situation. While our initial hypothesis was correct about the bottles design, there were also other issues which arose. Most notably, the participants often struggled to grip the curved plastic surface well enough to squeeze the bottle to dispense the soap in an efficient manner. This was quite obviously due to the affordances of the material in combination with the other external factors, yet only became apparent after the user test. The issues which participants encountered were more thoroughly analyzed in a later stage of the process, tying what was observed back to the theory of the course.