Christina Holman | Design Blog

On October 23, Wellesley's Engineering Laboratory (We-Lab) hosted a talk by Sarah Reed, an employee of the consultant product design firm Farm, Inc. One of the things I enjoyed about her talk was that she brought a simple truth to light: you don't have to know you want to go into engineering to go into engineering . Set on becoming a math teacher, Reed graduated with a teaching degree and, quickly after she joined the workforce, decided that teaching was not what she wanted to do then. However, she did discover that she enjoyed woodwork and formed her own business, which gained a loyal customer basis. Hoping to expand it, Reed returned to graduate school in order gain the skills and certification needed for such manufacturing activities. At first she looked into industrial design  -- the study of how products are made and interact with people -- but such program require significant art background. That surprised me. Reed noted that engineers and industrial designers tend t...

Prof. Banzaert introduced us last week to our new partnership with a community organization Community Rowing, Inc in Boston. The organization offers rowing lessons of all sorts but this year the EXTD 111 class will focus on its population of paraplegic and absent/reduced limb function rowers -- called adaptive rowing  or  para-rowing . Because of their inability to use particular muscles and rowing movements, the rowing equipment is adapted to their needs but there can be improvement. Differences between para-rowing equipment and the equipment used by those with full limb function can include chair support, the pontoons used for balance, a wider hull, restrained rowers, and straps for the torso. However, even with some aide from these changes, adaptive rowers have said to feel less support and independence in their activity. The challenge given to us is how to make their rowing experience more autonomous while safe. For example, rowers have commented that the ...

I received the book Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error by Kathryn Schulz this summer and, although I began reading it shortly after, I just finished the book. Schulz goes into the concept of error in much depth and really clarifies our current ideology and relationship with Error (capital "E" for the concept). Although not every example and description is applicable to my interests, I pinpointed several good points that carries over to product design and engineering processes: It is our nature to "theorize" about our world Product design is involved in developing that relationship between us and things/our environment. It is okay to say "I don't know;" in fact, it might be the best thing one can do to really learn and listen. "To err is human:" this is a permanent marriage; learn to live with mistakes. Schulz presents several compelling and insightful remarks on how we "err"and why we "err." She st...

In the previous post, I critically analyzed the multi-function devices being used at Wellesley and one of the most popular noted issues with these machines is the existence of poor mapping in the touchscreen and the keypad. Hence, I decided that the prototype of choice would be a new interface for those features of the MFDs, helping students and faculty navigate them. In designing a new interface, I first thought about the many comments other students expressed to me. Also, while keeping those notes in mind, I went to the MFD in the Science Center and played with it some more, in order that I could have a more critical eye and notice the pros and the cons of the device. I also took measurements of the screen and keypad for future reference. The first thing I personally noticed was how cluttered the screen looks and the lack of "common sense" functions and terms. Then, I turned to the complimentary keypad: it is abnormally shaped and holds several buttons placed inconve...

The newly established MFDs are intended to comprise scanning, printing and copying abilities in one device, but recently there has been mixed emotions on their efficiency. To evaluate interactions with the MFDs, it is important to use the  Seven Stages of Action  in Norman's Design of Everyday Things : For example.... Forming the goal -- To print document I sent from computer Forming the intention  -- I will approach MFD and initiate the printing. Specifying an action  -- Log-in to account; find the queued document and "release;" and log-out Perceiving the state of the world  -- Screen change signifies I have "logged in"or have hit a button. There are 3 main buttons on the side panel and paper settings on the first screen. First screen is for "copy" and I need to "print." Interpreting the state of the world  -- "Job list" does not show my titled document so this is not where I should be. "Check job" is my current...

Donald Norman again has impressed me with his thorough understanding of design as an individual consumer and as the teacher. The Design of Everyday Things (DOET) is increasingly becoming a self-guide -- rather a self-help book -- for me. Whereas in Chapter 1 he stresses the importance of attributing failures to the design of the product and not ourselves and introduced some design principals, Chapter 2 delves deeper into the thinking processes necessary to develop a quality-designed product.  One of the central themes I enjoy in Norman's book is how he addresses the psychology  behind "human error" and "product error." Not only does he use specific examples of minuscule errors in product design (e.g. threading film into a projector) and major errors (e.g. the failure of all three plane engines during a flight), Norman actually utilizes psychology terminology and explanations. For instance, he describes the phenomenon of learned helplessness and taught help...

This week Prof. Banzaert introduced us to the wonderful world of  REVERSE ENGINEERING , where one builds "down" rather than "up" to understand the product. I disassembled two brands of milk frothers, IKEA (Top, A) and Bodum (Bottom, B), but, before then, I first evaluated how well each brand functions and interacts with the consumer. IKEA BODUM - Supposed to take 15-20s; took 31s - Supposed to take 25-30s; took 50s - No instructions - Includes instructions - Visual feedback - Visual feedback; poor mapping - General "affordances," i.e. where to hold, switch on/off - General "affordances," i.e. where to hold, switch on/off - Aesthetic appeal; professional and sleek - Quieter, smoother and quicker performance As a consumer who has no experience with making artistic coffee creations, I personally would not recognize the difference between the almost $3 and $20 models. However, if a consumer is heavily...