diversity and Design

ARC 211 Diversity and Design Spring 2016 Project 3 – In Place of the Other Due: 04.21.16 Design is a process of making things right, for shaping what people need. We all live with designed objects that we love, hate, use, break, and don’t know how to fix. We need better ones. -Ralph Caplan In this assignment, you will test approximately four versions of the same product, and will develop an article for Consumer Reports that compares the products from impaired users’ points of view.

A. You will work with approximately four students from your online discussion group.

B. You may review one of the following product types.

Manual can openers Vending machines Lip balm Staplers Cell phones Laptops Tape dispensers Backpacks

Medication bottles Earphones Spray bottles Wallets Pens Dental floss Umbrellas Scissors

C. History: Provide a brief history of the product, and discuss how it has changed over time. You will need to conduct research to find some of this data. Cite all sources that you used to acquire the necessary information.

D. Description: Choose at least four markedly different versions of the same product. (Example:

staple-less stapler and stapler with staples.) Supply an image of each product, and verbally describe each product. Use a table format. Include the following in your description:

§ Name of Manufacturer § Product Name § Approximate Cost § Materials § Safety Features § Green Features

You will need to conduct research to find some of this data. Cite all sources that you used to acquire the necessary information.

E. Testing: We will do the testing in class. Each student in the group should test the all four products. When testing the products, you should temporarily impair yourself by simultaneously imposing the following conditions:

§ Splinting two fingers AND, at the same time, § Wearing dark glasses with blurred lenses

F. Documentation of testing: While one person is testing the product, the others should take

photographs/notes and vice versa. Include the following in your testing and rate both products (excellent, very good, good, fair, poor) using the following criteria:

§ Size: Is the size of the product is appropriate for the person using it? (Example: A 26” bike would be too large for a typical 5 year old)

§ Space: Does the spacing of the product’s features allow the person to easily use it? (Example: Buttons on a cell phone might be too small for an older person)

§ Energy: Does the person have to exert a lot of energy to use the product? (Example: Certain wine corkscrews require a lot of movements when only a few are necessary)

§ Error Tolerance: Is the product is tolerant of error? (Example: The ‘Error’ message on a computer informs the person that a mistake was made.)

§ Perceptible Information: Is the information necessary to use the product clear and obvious? (Example: Some smoke alarms do not display ways in which the alarm can be turned off.)

§ Simplicity and Intuitiveness: Is the product simple to use and easy to understand? (Example: Some mixing bowls have a gripper lip on one side and a pouring spout on the other. Someone not familiar with cooking can easily figure out how to use the product.)

§ Flexibility: Can the product be used in more than one way? (Example: The grips on some hammers allow the person to hold it close to the head or far away from the head.)

§ Equity: Can the product be used equally well by people with varying abilities? [Example: Some digital cameras would be very difficult for someone with arthritis to use because the active features (viewer, delete button, shooting button, etc.) are so small.]

§ Safety: Is the product safe for everyone to use? (Example: Some X-acto knives have very slippery handles, and, as a result, a person’s hand can slip during use thus causing a great chance of getting cut.)

§ Comfort and Body Fit: Is the product comfortable to use? Does it conform to the body? (Example: Some earbud inserts do not conform to the ear and, therefore, are quite uncomfortable with prolonged use.)

§ Cultural/Diversity Appropriateness: Does the product have any features that would stigmatize or be inappropriate for any cultural or diversity group? (Example: Most western toilets do not have a ‘wash’ function, and therefore would be considered ‘unclean’ in certain Asian cultures.)

§ Social Integration: Is the product socially acceptable? Does it in any way isolate the person using it? (Example: Some people feel awkward interacting with individuals who are in wheelchairs; therefore, the wheelchair might be considered as a product that can be socially isolating.)

§ Aesthetics: Is the product aesthetically pleasing? Does its appearance appeal to all segments of the population or niche groups? (Example: Grab bars in public restrooms can be useful to some people, but typically, they are not particularly pleasing to the eye to any segment of the population.)

Include photographs of you testing the products that visually demonstrate your ratings in the various categories. Use close-ups. Caption the photographs.

G. Summary/Critical comparison: Summarize the main points of your recommendations by providing a

critical comparison of the products. Add any additional information that you can find about the products that supports your points.

H. Recommendations for improvement: Recommend ways to redesign and/or improve each of the products. Use drawings, photographs, and writing as appropriate. Add any additional information that you can find about the products that supports your ideas. (The IDSA website might be helpful here.)

I. Requirements:

§ We recommend approximately 1500 words for a thorough product analysis. § All projects must be typed in Arial 10 pt. using 1.5 line spacing and 1” margins on the top,

bottom, and sides. § Tables may be single-spaced. § Sources must be listed as footnotes. (Use the Chicago Manual of Style humanities format for

footnotes (N). See http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/footnote.html ) § Include images of the products as well as photographs of the testing process. § Proofread your paper for spelling and grammatical errors before submitting. § List all of your names and person numbers on the upper left corner of the first page. Keep in

mind, the entire group will submit one paper. § Submit a hard copy of the assignment at the beginning of class on April 21.

J. Evaluation: § You will be evaluated on: § The variation in product selections § The quality of the product history § The quality of the product descriptions § The thoroughness of your testing/rating § The clarity and logic of your rating § The quality of your summary/critical comparison § The quality of your recommendations for improvement § The quality of your research