FINAL YEAR PROJECT
Design & Development: Improving the common workspace
Design & Development: Improving the common workspace
My final year project at uni was based on the improvement of the common workspace. This involved looking into both professional office spaces & home offices analysing their good points but mostly their shortcomings in order to understand where improvements in workspace furniture could be made.
After conducting market research on both areas I then started interviews & questionnaires with users. My first examinations were with students. I found so many problems & complaints with student workspaces and furniture that the decision was made to focus solely on improving this area to avoid overcomplicating the project.
The final design, which is displayed below was based on user demands & requirements. Several questionnaires & surveys were conducted with the user group (students) to ascertain their preferences in regards to what they expect and would like from a piece of home office furniture.
Survey participants suggested improvements & the popularity of new feature ideas that I had developed were pitched to the target market. This resulted in a product that was designed around the user & their needs.
The designs main features include:
Laptop Plinth & Clear Acrylic Noticeboard - Designed to lift the users laptop off the surface of the desk to leave a clear workspace underneath, also acts as a handy noticeboard.
Soft Rubber Writing Surface - So the user doesn't have to lean on something whilst writing/drawing.
Stationary Storage - Space for pencils, pens & other stationary positioned at the back corners of the desk so that they are out of the way but within reach.
Clutter Gutter - Positioned at the back of the desk so that it can be cleared quickly this area can also be used to store books & prop up papers, which would help when students are working from a piece of text.
Open Shelves - So the user can see what is stored within them & doesn't have to spend time searching in every nook and cranny trying to find something.
Improved Legroom & Desk Height along with a design that is highly functional & aesthetically pleasing.
After conducting market research on both areas I then started interviews & questionnaires with users. My first examinations were with students. I found so many problems & complaints with student workspaces and furniture that the decision was made to focus solely on improving this area to avoid overcomplicating the project.
The final design, which is displayed below was based on user demands & requirements. Several questionnaires & surveys were conducted with the user group (students) to ascertain their preferences in regards to what they expect and would like from a piece of home office furniture.
Survey participants suggested improvements & the popularity of new feature ideas that I had developed were pitched to the target market. This resulted in a product that was designed around the user & their needs.
The designs main features include:
Laptop Plinth & Clear Acrylic Noticeboard - Designed to lift the users laptop off the surface of the desk to leave a clear workspace underneath, also acts as a handy noticeboard.
Soft Rubber Writing Surface - So the user doesn't have to lean on something whilst writing/drawing.
Stationary Storage - Space for pencils, pens & other stationary positioned at the back corners of the desk so that they are out of the way but within reach.
Clutter Gutter - Positioned at the back of the desk so that it can be cleared quickly this area can also be used to store books & prop up papers, which would help when students are working from a piece of text.
Open Shelves - So the user can see what is stored within them & doesn't have to spend time searching in every nook and cranny trying to find something.
Improved Legroom & Desk Height along with a design that is highly functional & aesthetically pleasing.
Project Poster
As part of the project requirements I had to produce an A0 size promotional piece for poster day. The poster was used to display & explain my project to people from the design & engineering industry, as well as mediators who analysed and graded the posters.
As part of the project requirements I had to produce an A0 size promotional piece for poster day. The poster was used to display & explain my project to people from the design & engineering industry, as well as mediators who analysed and graded the posters.
