Mind Map of issues regarding why product would be prematurely disposed of and why users would find it hard to be emotionally attached to the product.Ideas for Prolonged Use and Emotional Value of Product
Additional Accessories: Allows user to add parts to the chair for a different look or feel.
Slots: The seat can be slotted at different heights for different purposes.
Hinges: Option of folding the chair to a more suitable state for storage or ease of moving.
Standout: Making the chair look a little quirky makes the user feel special for owning this particular chair. Comfort is also added from the mesh seating.Physiological Attachment
Adjustable Back: Small pins can be slotted into holes in the wood to adjust the angle of the back rest according to the preference of the user.
Chair to Table: A chair to suit the user's environment. The user may need a coffee table rather than a chair in a situation. The base is a square frame with legs while there are 2 different attachements to be fitted on top.
Arm Rests: Removable arm rests so chair can be used in different situations. Dining room chairs wouldn't have arm rests while living room lounge chairs would. Arm rests slot into holes in the seat of chair.Psychological/Socialogical Attachment
Love Seat: Single chair that can be changed to a loveseat. Base of chair can fold out for large yet intimate seat for 2.
Butt Groove: Seat is made of soft foam so over time, the user's butt will leave an imprint in the seat signifying all the times they've sat there and who the seat belongs to.
Wear away: The backing and seat of the chair is made of layers of material that delibirately wear away over the years of use. This reveals the layer underneath like displaying a new chair.Final Design: Underworld Class Chair
Product Poster
This task has tought me another method of appealing to users beyond the short term appeal and aesthetics. Part of attracting people to become users of your product is how they will interact with it for years to come and possibly even by the next generation. It has become crucial in our day that products can be used in alternate situations so that it will suit a larger majority of users. To be able to appeal to users at an emotional level is a large part of accomplishing what designers want as a result. All these points have challenged me to think of situations in which the user may or may not use the product in to find a sound solution to their needs now and in the future.
Product PosterMind Map for issues regarding why product would be disposed prematurely
Scenario Board showing life of the product. Chair is passed on to the next generation and stays with the user of the attachments throughout their life even in hard times as a sentimental reminder of who they spent the time with.
Final design of attachments. Small cubes in which the parents and children stick letters onto. Also comes with cars that fit onto the lower legs of the chair allowing the child to slide them back and forth.
This final design has been made to create a sentimental value between the product and the user. As the blocks that fit onto the chair legs require the parents help, both parent and child will have a memory of the time they participated in this activity together. The chair will not only be a product, it will then become an experience that is shared between adults and children. The design of the blocks are meant to enhance the experience of the chair to more than just a product for sitting on. It includes more than one people into a product that is better known for single person use for the most part. With the addition of the blocks, the lifespan of the chair may last a lot longer than without the blocks. It also creates interest in the chair as another product.
Polyurethane Foam: A soft foam that is malleable to fit onto the chair legs. This material is also safe for children as it is not hazardous to them. It can come in a range of colours to appeal to children. Very light in weight so it can be carried while attached to the chair and not cause any injuries.
The situation in which the user of the chair would buy these attachments are if they had children in the future. The attachements act as a toy for the new addition to the family.
Final design of attachments. Small cubes in which the parents and children stick letters onto. Also comes with cars that fit onto the lower legs of the chair allowing the child to slide them back and forth.This final design has been made to create a sentimental value between the product and the user. As the blocks that fit onto the chair legs require the parents help, both parent and child will have a memory of the time they participated in this activity together. The chair will not only be a product, it will then become an experience that is shared between adults and children. The design of the blocks are meant to enhance the experience of the chair to more than just a product for sitting on. It includes more than one people into a product that is better known for single person use for the most part. With the addition of the blocks, the lifespan of the chair may last a lot longer than without the blocks. It also creates interest in the chair as another product.
Polyurethane Foam: A soft foam that is malleable to fit onto the chair legs. This material is also safe for children as it is not hazardous to them. It can come in a range of colours to appeal to children. Very light in weight so it can be carried while attached to the chair and not cause any injuries.
The situation in which the user of the chair would buy these attachments are if they had children in the future. The attachements act as a toy for the new addition to the family.
Although designing accessories and attachments for products is a good way for users to development an attachment to their product, it is only a bandaid for a product that has long been forgotten about their original product. As a user's relationship with their product fade's, the accessories will only seem new for a while before it will become the same chair that they've grown tired of already. Although i think it is not the best way of getting users to keep their products longer, i think that it is an effective way to cut down on the amount of waste generated. With this method, there is a chance that users will end up keeping their products for a much longer time than its even meant to last for.
I have always thought that collaborative group work is helpful to everyone within the group as there are many opinions and different ways of thinking to solve each problem. Each member can learn from each other and bounce ideas off each other to get to a solution. There is a downside to the large groups that were formed though. Opinions can get lost in the discussion where ideas are just thrown around. In smaller groups or even individual work, all ideas are taken into consideration and people can express their ideas to the fullest without needing to win the vote of others who just simpley may not understand the whole concept.
If i were to design a piece of furniture, i would look at the successful pieces of furniture out there and find out what people think when they are actually using the piece of furniture. I find that people have different opinions of furniture when they are looking at it and when they are actually using it. After finding out the opinions of people, i would figure out an environment in which i think would evoke such emotions and take samples from that environment to generate ideas as to what i want people to feel when using the product.
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