Micro-Kitchen David Maish

Professor Chris Quinn | Visualizing the Human Experience

David Maish | M.A. Interaction Design

THE ACCESSIBLE MICRO-KITCHEN BIG IDEAS FOR SMALL PLACES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Project Brief Research Exploration Sketches Wireframes Conclusion

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PROJECT BRIEF

THE MICRO-KITCHEN BIG IDEAS FOR SMALL PLACES

New York City—it offers everything at your fingertips. But like many metropolitan areas across the globe, those opportunities are also making our world smaller. Increasing urbanization and population growth are bringing us closer together—literally.

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The home size is decreasing while rent and mortgages are increasing. Even so, that modest space shouldn’t equate to a reduction in functionality, living standards or a reflection of personal style.

This is your opportunity to impact the way people live, by being part of the design and engineering of this breakthrough appliance.

Kitchen Mission Design a functional micro-kitchen. Assume you are given a 7ft x 25in space. What would your design look like? What features? What clever and creative solutions can you come up with?

The Impact Making the best of a small space isn’t a problem unique to NYC. A micro-kitchen gives urban dwellers an opportunity to optimize space in a savvy way. In partnership, we want to take your designs from mind to market—meaning your design could end up in homes across the globe!

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RESEARCH

PERSONA

PRIMARY GOALS

Accessibility: Ease of use for a wheelchair user in a small kitchen space Meal Preparation: Cook Top frying, baking in oven, heat and re-heat in microwave Storage: Cabinets, drawers, refrigerator and freezer Cleaning: Sink and dishwasher

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USER TESTING PAPER PROTOTYPES

Paper prototype testing consisted of 5 separate interviews with 5 individuals. One working mom, one retired mom, one single working female, one male high school student and a retired male.

Names: User 01 User 02 User 03 User 04 User 05

Sarah Lisa Forester Nanette Jackson

User Interview Process: I wrote down 8 tasks for the users to complete. One task per appliance.

I created a set of Low-Fidelity wireframes for each appliance.

Each user was made comfortable in a distraction free setting.

I showed them a rough sketch of the front and top view of my kitchen layout.

I explained the scope of the project to each user letting them know of the integration of the control pad with each appliance.

I ask each user to perform the tasks.

As the user touched the screen, I put the appropriate next screen in front of them.

I took notes on each user as they completed the tasks.

At the end of the interview, I asked for their feedback. I asked about their likes or dislikes and anything they might want to add.

I ask if they would use/benefit from a control pad integrated in their existing kitchens.

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User Testing conducted using Low-Fidelity wireframes for each appliance.

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TASKS 1

CABINETS

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Lower and raise cabinets.

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MICROWAVE

Set burner 2 to high and start cooking.

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Set timer to 4 minutes and start.

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REFRIGERATOR

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Start cycle to clean dishes.

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Set oven to 365 degrees and bake for 30 minutes.

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FREEZER

Lower the temperature in the freezer.

Scroll through refrigerator inventory list.

DISHWASHER

COOKTOP

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SINK

Turn sink water flow to high and turn water on.

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Success/Failure rate for each task: User 01 Sarah 100% User 02 Lisa 80% User 03 Forester 100% User 04 Nanette 80% User 05 Jackson 100% User comments that merit sharing: If it speeds things up I would like something like this in my own kitchen.

I probably would not enter food items into the inventory list.

Would it be possible to check back with my refrigerator while I’m shopping via a mobile app?

Add a detergent full/refill indicator before dishwasher will start.

Add a kitchen timer button to the home screen.

Notes: All of my users completed the tasks easily.

All users were familiar with iPad/iPhone type apps.

Each user said that they would use a control screen app like this in their existing kitchen.

It is important to note that only one interviewee was a wheelchair user.

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EXPLORATION

GUIDELINES

• Standard counter top height is 36 inches • Standard appliances in many kitchens: Refrigerator with Freezer, Cooktop, Oven, Microwave, Dishwasher, Sink, Garbage Disposal • Think compact--ideally, a micro-kitchen that could fit in a NYC elevator, stairwell, or through a window • Should include electrical and water hookups, located at your discretion • All appliances should connect to a main “counter screen” that will be located on the counter top (embedded and recessed) • The design should be able to fit with any kitchen appearance (interior design)

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IDEATION The kitchen is deigned to be accessible to a wheelchair user in small living spaces. This provides a solution for the “compact” apartments of New York, San Francisco and other large metropolitan cities.

All appliances are controlled by a user interface counter screen. Cooktop, Oven, Microwave, Refrigerator, Freezer, Dishwasher, Sink and Cabinets.

The refrigerator, freezer and cabinets are equipped with bar code readers so when new food items are introduced they are automatically added to the food inventory. If the food item does not have a bar code it can be added to the system manually.

The user can check food inventory via a mobile app.

The Counter Screen is equipped with Voice Activation.

The Counter Screen is connected to the internet so the user can search recipes and cooking tutorial videos.

Cooktop: The Cooktop slides out so a wheelchair user can roll under it.

Sink: User can roll under sink.

Cabinets: The cabinets lower making them reachable by the user.

Food Prep: Food Prep Area/Cutting Board slides out so the user can roll under it.

Drawer Units: The Refrigerator, Freezer, Cooktop, Oven and Microwave are “drawer” based units.

They pull out to be accessed.

Dishwasher: The Dishwasher is on counter top level and accessible.

All appliances are within reach of the user and controlled by the counter screen.

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KITCHEN SCHEMATICS ACCESSIBLE MICRO-KITCHEN

A fully wheelchair accessible Micro-Kitchen. 7 feet wide x 25 inches deep. It includes a Cook Top, Oven, Microwave, Refrigerator, Freezer, Dishwasher, Sink and Cabinets that lower and raise. All controlled by a counter top control screen interface.

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MINDMAP The visual relationship of appliances in the counter screen.

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SKETCHES

ROUGH SKETCHES

THOUGHTS, SCOPE AND FLOW

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WIREFRAMES

MEDIUM-FIDELITY FINAL WIREFRAMES

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Home Screen

Microwave

Cook Top

Oven

Fridge Temp

Fridge Inventory

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Freezer Temp

Freezer Inventory

Dishwasher

Sink

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CONCLUSION

PROCESS

I have designed a fully wheelchair accessible Micro-Kitchen that includes a Cook Top, Oven, Microwave, Refrigerator, Freezer, Dishwasher, Sink and Cabinets that lower and raise. All controlled by a counter top control screen interface.

This was achieved through a complete UX Interaction Design process that included research, ideation, exploration, paper prototyping and usability testing.

Through this interactive process I refined my product from initial concept sketches to a final prototype launch deliverable.

My simple, yet effective design could prove to be a solution for many individuals needing accessibility in a micro-kitchen living space.

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Concept Sketches | Low-Fi Wireframes

Low-Fidelity Wireframes (Axure)

Medium-Fidelity Prototypes

(UI modified based on user testing)

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