Product design for elderly visual design information inspired a new perspective in design education

Abstract

A workshop Product Design for Elderly was held in Beijing and organized by the School of Digital Media and Design, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. A domestic appliances company had sponsored a part of the workshop and brought in the topics. The objectives of the workshop were creating a product design by each design team. and gaining design competence with use of visual design information. The work method was based on the sequential design process of Pahl and Beitz. The archetype of process design process was the building stone for the proposed product design for elderly process, which had a sequential character and feedback options. During the workshop were held three questionnaires for observation and experience research with a new perspective in design education. Communication and taking design decisions are the two design activities that run through the entire process. The go decision appeared to be crucial, so it could be defined as a separate design step. Visual information will be gathered among other things with a digital camera by taking pictures and making movies. This is “walking design”. The idea generation is based on the gathered visual design information, the problem definition, the design brief and design space that defines the boundaries of the design solution. The concept development can be well presented in a visual way. Cost estimation is also included in the proposed process.