Creative thinking process assignment
1. Role of ergonomics in design process :
Introduction :
• Ergonomics generally is defined as the study of how people work in their environment or in
other words it means a good relationship between people and the things they interact with.
• This could include the objects we use or the environment we live in.
• We should consider ergonomics in the design of every product or environment.
• We should focus on ergonomics at the starting of any design process to design user friendly
products that satisfies the needs and requirements of the user.
• Ignoring ergonomics can lead to design failures as they don't fit the needs and requirements
of the user.
Importance of ergonomics :
• Ergonomics is an important part of research in the product development process to design
better products.
• Ergonomics uses anthropometrical data to determine the size, shape and form of a product,
and make it easier for people to use.
• In general Ergonomists can help the designer to identify which user characteristics the
designer should take into account during the design process.
• Its purpose is to increase the safety, comfort and performance of a product or an
environment. For example an office space.
• Important measurement terms that should be remembered by the designers while designing
a product( here for designing an office space) using ergonomics are :
• body size
• body shape
• strength
• mobility
• sensory sensitivity
• mental ability
• experience
• training
• culture
• emotions (of the employees)
• Applying ergonomic methods in the design process can yield better products and new
innovations.
• Advantages of using ergonomics
in designing an office space are :
• Increase accuracy
• Reduce fatigue
• Better comfort
• Reduce chances of injury
• Time management
• Increased productivity
Ergonomics makes our life better
Categories of ergonomics
There are three types of ergonomics:
• Physical ergonomics : Looks at how human anatomical, anthropometric, physiological and
biomechanical characteristics relate to physical activity.
This includes:
• working postures
• manual handling
• repetitive movements
• musculoskeletal disorders
• workplace layout and environment
• Psychological ergonomics studies mental processes (eg perception,cognition, memory,
reasoning and emotion) and how people interact with products, systems and environments.
This includes:
• mental workload
• decision-making
• human-computer interaction
• human reliability
• attitudes
• stress
• motivation
• cultural differences
Organisational ergonomics is about
optimising the organisational
structures, policies and processes
of socio-technical systems.
This includes:
• communication
• work design
• staff resource management
• working time patterns
• co-operative work
• quality management
• organisational culture
• Thus keeping all these in mind we can conclude that ergonomics plays a vital in the design
process.
2. Define design and support the
answer with images :
• In general, design is the realisation of a concept, idea or theory into
a drawing, plan, specification, model, and so on that allows us to achieve a series of
objectives.
• Design is about creating solutions for people and physical items to address a need or a
problem.
• Design is a very broad concept and its meaning can greatly vary from one field to another.
• There are several categories of design. They are :
• Communication design
• Web Designer
• Graphic Design
• Animation Design
• Interior Design
• Motion Graphics Design
• Industrial Product Design
• Fashion Design
• UI/UX Design
• Design has both functional and aesthetical value.
• The purpose of design is much more closely linked to strategy than aesthetics.
• There are certain principles and elements in design which plays a vital on designing
everything.
• Elements and principles are the most basic components of any design.
• Design elements have an impact on how a piece of work is perceived, executed, and used and
are present in design regardless of skill, taste, or style.
• The Elements are :
• Line
• shape
• space
• value
• form
• texture
• color.
• Design Principles are a tool for creating a better, more consistent experience for the users.
• They are high level principles that guide the detailed design decisions.
• The principles are :
• Contrast
• Balance
• Emphasis
• Movement
• Proportion
• Hierarchy
• Repetition
• Rhythm
• Pattern
• Unity
• Variety
Stary night by Vincent Van Gogh
• This painting is one of the most successful works of all time because of Van Gogh’s utilization
of all the Elements and Principles( *the most basic components of any design*).
3. Role of innovation in design process :
• It is the utilization of a designer’s methods and sensibility to address the needs of the
consumer.
• Along with this design approach, business strategy and technological feasibility are used to
create both market opportunity and customer value.
• The key steps of innovation by design is engagement with consumers.
• Prototypes are created, and then tested, and then refined.
• It is essential to do this because it minimizes the risk of product or even failure.
• A true and deep understanding of customers creates the opportunities to the organizations
that utilize innovation by design.
• It is this part of the design process that ensures profitable, popular, and revolutionary
innovation.
• Innovation in design can be implemented in eight simple steps:
Discover :
• This is the step where exploration happens.
• Needs and requirements of the customers should be identified.
• The best place to start is choosing a specific topic or area of interest and then gathering data.
Reframe The Topic :
• Once we decide what to do with a topic or idea, we need to take a deeper look at it and find
any insights or patterns.
• Throw out any assumptions that we may have about a particular problem, or the solution to
previous problems, and reframe our point-of-view.
Incubate:
• This step takes patience.
• We should open our creative side by doing things differently, looking at different angles and
act accordingly.
• We should always let the idea grow to achieve and innovate big.
Ideate:
• At this step we should actually start implementing our ideas through sketches and by
discussing about it.
Refine:
• When all of the ideas are in we should think of all possible ideas and which works the best and
on how to implement them.
• This is where much of the design comes into play. The innovation should be laid out in a very
clear way.
Test:
• Once the idea is decided on we should approach the customers and take their opinions into
account for better result.
• We should build prototypes and try them out by testing them and getting feedbacks.
Launch:
• Once the product or service is tested. refined and approved it can be launched.
Improve And Scale:
• When the product is available to the public, the product can be improved and scaled by
getting further more feedbacks.
• Design is one of the most critical components of creating innovations.
• By incorporating a design approach into our innovation processes, we can create stronger
and more successful solutions for the customers which leads to greater innovation.
• Thus innovation plays a key role in design process and the design plays a vital role in
innovation too.
