The Micro-Kitchen Big Idea’s for Small Spaces
Professor Chris Quinn Visualizing the Human Experience LC4D @ Lindsey Wilson College
Chantal Livesay M.A. Interactive Design
Index
Index...2-3 Project Introduction...4-5 Solution Introduction...6-7 Initial User Research...8-9 Product Solution Presentation...10-17 User Testing Report...18-21 Prototype...22-27 Conclusion...28-29
Project Introduction
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. 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. How do you incorporate function and design into a fully functioning 7 linear foot kitchen that fits a metropolitan lifestyle? Your design will be solving the space and functionality battle that challenge urban dwellers across the globe.
Solution Introduction
The Micro-Kitchen
Your 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! Requirements Must be no wider than 7 ft Must be no deeper than 25 in A consumer must be able to refrigerate, cook, and clean with this design. Must include the following items: Microwave or an Oven (can include both individually or combined) Cooking surface or cook top (include at least two burners) Sink or Dishwasher (can include both) Fridge (may also include Freezer)
Guidelines Standard countertop 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)
Initial User Research
Persona Zoe Kensella Bio
Motivations
Zoe is a single woman living in an small apartment. She currently works in a factory while going to school part time. Her biggest problem with cooking in her apartment is not having a lot of time to prepare the kitchen and cook the food at the same time.
Incentive Fear Achievement Growth
"It would be nice to be able to cook after getting off work." Age: 30 Work: Factory Family: Single Location: Bowling Green, Ky
Goals To be able to cook in her apartment. To be able cook around her busy schedule. Have a functioning small kitchen.
Frustrations Busy Creative
Passionate
Not having enough time to cook at night after work. Wasted Time looking for the right link. Not having time to cook with all the preparations.
Power Social
Personality Introvert
Extrovert
Analytical
Creative
Passive
Active
Product Solution Presenetation
Kitchen Sketches
Counter Sketches
Medium Fidelity Wireframes
User Testing Report
Can you turn on the oven? Sucess Rate 100% Can you turn on the stove top?
Sucess Rate 100% Can you turn on the microwave?
Sucess Rate 100% Can you navigate the recipes?
Sucess Rate 100%
User Testing Report
Hot burner notification, Setting Button
White out Low, Medium, High till heated.
Add words “Back” and “Home” to buttons on each page. Warning systems for burners/oven if left on to long.
Prototype
Prototype
How to turn on the oven
Prototype
How to turn on the stove top
Prototype
How to turn on the microwave
Conclusion
CONCLUSION After using the UX Interaction Design process I believe that I was able to make a simple and effective kitchen that is user friendly. I wanted to keep a simple user friendly design so that anyone who needed to use the screen would be able to without difficulty. In conclusion, through user testing I was able to make my design more user friendly and effective.