Project Design for Specific Users
Clay prototype and walk-through scenarios
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Since our co-designer has a visual impairment it is difficult/ impossible to see the sketches or ideations made on paper. Therefore, we chose multiple ideas and made clay models of them beforehand. These models are meant to feel and try out to see if it might work with him.
During the co-design session, we will share the clay models with him, where we explain what functions it would have, how to hold it or where to put it and then ask him questions about his ability to interact with him.
The Co-Design Session
Two of the group went to meet up with our co-designer to ideate while the rest joined over video chat. To be able to design together, we planned the activities we had found most helpful during our research about co-designing with visually impaired participants.
Co-design methods
Day Reconstruction
Before we did the co-design session, we made a day reconstruction to get further insight into the challenges our co-designer faces in daily life. The red highlight activities are where the frustration coming from.
Home safari
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We wished to have more information about the environment of our codesigner. Therefore, we asked him to make a video of his home. Here he films the rooms he has and explains what the usage is. This helps us to understand what kind of design would fit with his environment, how much space there is and where the product could be placed best if needed.
Question: What are the challenges of finding things / organising things in the daily life of our co-designer?
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Any scenarios of finding stuff (e.g. in the kitchen, before heading out)?
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In what kind of scenarios is finding misplaced stuff most annoying?
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Any product that would be useful in those scenarios?
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At what level the product should interact with his girlfriend and friends?
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A (separate) product to organize his kitchen supplies?
Some Walkthrough Scenarios
Main findings:
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He doesn't like thinking about organizing all the time, and due to his impairment, small stuff becomes hard to find.
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He also finds kitchen spice bottles hard to recognize.
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He doesn't like to be treated differently.
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The contrast between colour should be intense for him to recognize, for example, LED strip on dark background.
Design challenge 2.0
"To help the user organize and find selected everyday objects (in a way that is also inclusive of other target groups/a wider target group)."