3.1 Introduction
The overall aim of the research phase is to assess the impacts that the design constraints will have on the synthesis and generation of a solution. The constraints detail maximum sizing, preferred materials, users, flexibility requirements, storage provisions, and production requirements.
Although the constraints list enough information for a designer to attempt solution generation without external influences, research must still be conducted to ensure that any solution generated is one that is functional, effective, and above all, usable in real world scenarios.
Sufficient research will also ensure that errors or problems become apparent ahead of time, allowing for mitigation or correction where appropriate.
Although the constraints list enough information for a designer to attempt solution generation without external influences, research must still be conducted to ensure that any solution generated is one that is functional, effective, and above all, usable in real world scenarios.
Sufficient research will also ensure that errors or problems become apparent ahead of time, allowing for mitigation or correction where appropriate.
3.2 Data Collection
3.2.1 Issues associated with design constraints
Although the constraints give the designer a generous amount of freedom in creating a solution, there remains the possibility that difficulty may be encountered in generating a design that complies with the constraints, while being truly innovative and multifunctional.
Chief among these issues is sizing. The ideal solution must be of a size that makes it accessible to the greatest number of users, yet not too small or too big as to make it impractical.
As the constraints strictly specify the location in which the prototype must be constructed, all potential solutions must be designed such that they can be constructed with the hand and power tools available at that location. Also specified are production methods, which may further complicate matters; the designer must work within his or her skillset and experience with carcass construction, and this might limit the degree of creativity that can be realised.
As the material must be "predominantly timber such as Tasmanian Oak or Maple" (Barlow, 2016), the qualities of these timbers must be taken into account when designing a solution. The Tasmanian Timber Promotion Board (2009) suggests that Tasmanian oak has an excellent degree of workability; sawing, planing, drilling, gluing and finishing (a datasheet is attached as Appendix 2). The Queensland Government's Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (2010) lists similar qualities for Queensland maple, the predominant species of maple stocked by many timber yards.
As specific mention is made of the need for innovative flexibility and modular storage, both in the design constraints and the design brief, extra consideration must be given to making sure that these points are addressed. Regular reflection and evaluation should take place, in order to ensure that actual innovation is being realised, instead of a modification or re-imagining of others' designs.
The constraints governing cleaning, care and timber finish also have the potential to introduce difficulty into the design process, albeit with a different degree of potential impact than may be imagined. The chosen finish must be chemically stable, so as not to induce or provoke skin conditions that may occur when a user touches the prototype. Lundov et al. (2011) suggest that methylisothiazolinone, included in some paint products, may cause contact dermatitis. In any case, material safety datasheets should be consulted before the selection of a finishing product is made. The finish must also be durable enough to withstand wear and tear resulting from normal use. Care and cleaning of the chosen finish should not require any chemicals or materials beyond those available in the common household, and ideally need nothing more than a dampened cloth.
Consideration should also be given to the users of the finished product, adults and adolescent children. The product should not be overly cumbersome, difficult to use, unsafe, or of an unsuitable size. The examination of anthropometric datasets can be of assistance in this area.
Although it is not a stated constraint, the amount of time available for development and construction of the prototype must be taken into account. The chosen solution should ideally be as efficient to build as possible, with a minimum of 'complicated' features and assembly processes.
Chief among these issues is sizing. The ideal solution must be of a size that makes it accessible to the greatest number of users, yet not too small or too big as to make it impractical.
As the constraints strictly specify the location in which the prototype must be constructed, all potential solutions must be designed such that they can be constructed with the hand and power tools available at that location. Also specified are production methods, which may further complicate matters; the designer must work within his or her skillset and experience with carcass construction, and this might limit the degree of creativity that can be realised.
As the material must be "predominantly timber such as Tasmanian Oak or Maple" (Barlow, 2016), the qualities of these timbers must be taken into account when designing a solution. The Tasmanian Timber Promotion Board (2009) suggests that Tasmanian oak has an excellent degree of workability; sawing, planing, drilling, gluing and finishing (a datasheet is attached as Appendix 2). The Queensland Government's Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (2010) lists similar qualities for Queensland maple, the predominant species of maple stocked by many timber yards.
As specific mention is made of the need for innovative flexibility and modular storage, both in the design constraints and the design brief, extra consideration must be given to making sure that these points are addressed. Regular reflection and evaluation should take place, in order to ensure that actual innovation is being realised, instead of a modification or re-imagining of others' designs.
The constraints governing cleaning, care and timber finish also have the potential to introduce difficulty into the design process, albeit with a different degree of potential impact than may be imagined. The chosen finish must be chemically stable, so as not to induce or provoke skin conditions that may occur when a user touches the prototype. Lundov et al. (2011) suggest that methylisothiazolinone, included in some paint products, may cause contact dermatitis. In any case, material safety datasheets should be consulted before the selection of a finishing product is made. The finish must also be durable enough to withstand wear and tear resulting from normal use. Care and cleaning of the chosen finish should not require any chemicals or materials beyond those available in the common household, and ideally need nothing more than a dampened cloth.
Consideration should also be given to the users of the finished product, adults and adolescent children. The product should not be overly cumbersome, difficult to use, unsafe, or of an unsuitable size. The examination of anthropometric datasets can be of assistance in this area.
Although it is not a stated constraint, the amount of time available for development and construction of the prototype must be taken into account. The chosen solution should ideally be as efficient to build as possible, with a minimum of 'complicated' features and assembly processes.
3.2.2 Current market products
One possible avenue for analysis and design guidance is the examination of current market products. To this end, several local furniture retailers were visited, where a range of products were viewed and assessed. Ultimately this line of research proved to be quite disappointing; many products were similar in appearance and size, with little true variance noted in some retailers' entire range of product offerings. In spite of this apparent failure, lessons can still be learned, in that an opening does exist for a piece of unique and innovative furniture. As a consequence of this result, a greater emphasis will need to be placed on other forms of feedback.
3.2.3 User survey
After initial design ideas, feedback from potential users resulted in the realisation that more consideration needed to be given the end user of the product. As such, a small survey was conducted, the results of which may be seen below:
Table 2: User survey
Table 2 Key
3.2.4 Anthropometric data
The analysis and application of anthropometric data can be of use in determining the ideal size of a product, as well as the placement of features for optimum manipulation.
As Idea 4 immediately appears to be the most popular and well received design, consultation of data relating to persons in the seated position is of relevance, given that one intended function of that idea is a desk. The British Standard for Office Furniture, as cited in Pheasant (1996) suggests that a desk surface height of 720mm ±10mm is optimal for the 'average' person, and although it will not suit 100% of users, it represents the best compromise. Pheasant (1996) also suggests that the thickness of the desktop "be kept down to an absolute minimum" to afford the user ample leg room underneath the desk. To address this point and it's implications, the U.S. Department of Defense Human Factors Engineering Technical Advisory Group (2000) lists the sitting knee height of the 99th percentile of surveyed persons as 623mm for men, and 578mm for women; a sample of this data is attached as Appendix 3. This could be taken to mean that the underside of the desktop should have a minimum height of at least 650mm, and ideally more than 700, to allow for a decent range of movement.
Although there is no requirement for the results of this data to be followed, the incorporation of these findings into the generation of a solution will result in a product that is sized such that it can be used by the widest possible range of users.
As Idea 4 immediately appears to be the most popular and well received design, consultation of data relating to persons in the seated position is of relevance, given that one intended function of that idea is a desk. The British Standard for Office Furniture, as cited in Pheasant (1996) suggests that a desk surface height of 720mm ±10mm is optimal for the 'average' person, and although it will not suit 100% of users, it represents the best compromise. Pheasant (1996) also suggests that the thickness of the desktop "be kept down to an absolute minimum" to afford the user ample leg room underneath the desk. To address this point and it's implications, the U.S. Department of Defense Human Factors Engineering Technical Advisory Group (2000) lists the sitting knee height of the 99th percentile of surveyed persons as 623mm for men, and 578mm for women; a sample of this data is attached as Appendix 3. This could be taken to mean that the underside of the desktop should have a minimum height of at least 650mm, and ideally more than 700, to allow for a decent range of movement.
Although there is no requirement for the results of this data to be followed, the incorporation of these findings into the generation of a solution will result in a product that is sized such that it can be used by the widest possible range of users.
3.3 Summary of collected data
After the collection of data from several sources, conclusions can begin to be made about the direction of the design and the attributes of the prototype.
Although the analysis of current market products proved to be a failure, data gained from a user survey was of particular value. For example, users equally prefer Tasmanian oak and maple, and prefer a stained finish over an oil or varnish finish. Preferences for sizing, flexibility and practicality are less consistent, with some users finding features attractive that others do not. However some patterns can be noted, with those surveyed seeing certain sizes or features as universally appealing; these patterns may assist developmental guidance.
Analysis of anthropometric data would indicate that an ideal development of Idea 4 would incorporate dimensions that allow it to be used by the broadest possible range of users, while also affording a good degree of personal comfort.
Although the analysis of current market products proved to be a failure, data gained from a user survey was of particular value. For example, users equally prefer Tasmanian oak and maple, and prefer a stained finish over an oil or varnish finish. Preferences for sizing, flexibility and practicality are less consistent, with some users finding features attractive that others do not. However some patterns can be noted, with those surveyed seeing certain sizes or features as universally appealing; these patterns may assist developmental guidance.
Analysis of anthropometric data would indicate that an ideal development of Idea 4 would incorporate dimensions that allow it to be used by the broadest possible range of users, while also affording a good degree of personal comfort.
3.4 Interpretation of collected data
Formative evaluation
The ideal solution will incorporate the requirements of the design brief and design constraints, along with research data. As the brief states that the furniture must be multifunctional, the solution must give preference to this concern; the designer cannot simply hope that his solution will be interpreted as being multifunctional, when in reality it may not be.
The solution must also stay within the bounds of the design constraints, and attempt to include survey data; the first point is a inferred requirement of the project, while the second will help produce a solution that includes 'real world' feedback.
The solution must also stay within the bounds of the design constraints, and attempt to include survey data; the first point is a inferred requirement of the project, while the second will help produce a solution that includes 'real world' feedback.
3.5 Analysis of collected data in terms of design constraints
Interaction Analysis
Table 3: Interaction analysis
Interaction analysis key
Image 2: Interaction net
Analysis of the various interactions between design constraints can provide a beneficial understanding of how relationships between those constraints can affect design outcomes. For example, the interaction between production methods and manufacture location is essential; it is of more importance than the interaction between maintenance and size. By conducting interaction analysis, more attention can be given to design factors that are felt to be of greater significance, contributing to a more productive design and successful end result.
3.6 Conclusions drawn from interaction analysis
Formative analysis
The interaction matrix and interaction net demonstrate the need to study constraint relationships and their influence/s on solution generation. To demonstrate this need, the interaction between finish and users shows a more heavily weighted relationship than, say, the relationship between production methods and material.
3.7 Conclusion
To conclude the Research Phase, the various data gathered show than a suitable solution could potentially take many forms, but will ideally be suitably dimensioned for the broadest possible range of users, be efficient and straightforward to construct and use nothing but the suggested materials in the assigned workshop. Ample consideration should also be given to the selection of a finish and the maintenance it might require. The solution should also attempt to incorporate multifunctional features where possible, and the designer should remember that their design must be innovative. At all times, the design constraints must be borne in mind; they govern the bounds of the project and failure will likely result should they be ignored.