THE MICRO-KITCHEN BIG IDEAS FOR SMALL SPACES
Professor Chris Quinn Visualizing the Human Experience LC4D @ Lindsey Wilson College
Kathy Loughlin M.A. Interactive Design
TABLE OF CONTENTS Project Brief
3
User Centered Design Process
5
Initial User Research
7
Persona
Exploration
Site Map Mind Map Ideation
Sketches
Oven Cooktop Microwave Dishwasher Refrigerator/Freezer
9
13
Wireframes
18
User Testing
25
Conclusion
29
Low Fidelity Medium Fidelity
PROJECT BRIEF
Project Brief Design a functional micro-kitchen. Making the best of a small space is not a problem in NYC. A micro-kitchen gives urban dwellers an opportunity to optimize space in a savvy way. Max Dimensions: 7 ft x 25 in.
Living In New York Micro apartments, especially those fully furnished with extra amenities like a gym, spa, lounge, work areas, swimming pool, and housekeeping service are a way for New Yorkers to feel at home in a small space.
USER CENTERED DESIGN PROCESS
User Centered Design Process The user centered design process started with thinking about the user of the micro-kitchen, their needs and behaviors. Then we moved into the mode of clearly defining the the problem for the user of the micro-kitchen. Next we generated ideas, created the prototype and performed user testing.
INITIAL USER RESEARCH
Persona
EXPLORATION
Site Map
Mind Map
Ideation
SKETCHES
Home
Oven and Cooktop
Microwave and Dishwasher
Refrigerator/Freezer
WIREFRAMES
Low Fidelity - Home
Low Fidelity - Examples
Medium Fidelity - Home
Medium Fidelity - Oven and Cooktop
Medium Fidelity Microwave and Dishwasher
Medium Fidelity - Refrigerator/Freezer
USER TESTING
Tasks 1. Go to the oven and turn on the oven to bake and set the temperature at 450 degrees for one hour to bake a pie. 2. Go to the cooktop and turn on the large burner on the stovetop and warm up some soup. Turn the stovetop off when you are done. 3. Go to the microwave and make some popcorn. 4. Go to the dishwasher and turn it on to wash delicate glassware from the party last night. 5. Go to the freezer and adjust the temperature of the freezer since you noticed some
Results 1. The Home page was clear to the users 2. On the oven page there was debate about time versus temp and what you had to select first. 3. On the cooktop there was misunderstanding with one of the users on the power level buttons and how to turn off the one burner versus turning off the appliance. 4. On the microwave, the same user in Number 3 had some confusion about the popcorn. 5. On the refrigerator/freezer page the users were very clear on how to accomplish the task.
Testing
CONCLUSION
Conclusion This design project took us through all the steps in the HCD model and by focusing on the user and adhering to the steps, a better design for the control screen emerged.