IMPLEMENTING ECODESIGN PRINCIPLES IN PRODUCT DESIGN: THE ROLE OF USABILITY
Year: 2015
Editor: Christian Weber, Stephan Husung, Gaetano Cascini, Marco Cantamessa, Dorian Marjanovic, Monica Bordegoni
Author: Sousa, Ana M.; Sampaio, Alvaro M.; Simoes, Paulo; Oliveira, Raquel
Series: ICED
Institution: 1: Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Portugal; 2: University of Minho, Portugal; 3: Superior Institute of Paços de Brandão, Portugal
Section: Design for Life
Page(s): 011-020
ISBN: 978-1-904670-64-3
ISSN: 2220-4334
Abstract
The market growing saturation with products similar to the already existent ones or whose adaptation to a user revealed inefficiency, makes relevant the elaboration of projects that effectively bring competitive advantage and consequently contribute to the development and well-being of the society and the ecosystem. With this paper it is intended to elaborate a project methodology which encompasses the concepts inherent to sustainability in conjunction with user-centered design. The study of these areas - the combination of ecodesign and usability criteria - culminates in a methodology which was applied to the redesign of a vacuum cleaner, as illustrative form, divided into two relevant phases, which are: (i) recognition of the users real needs, as well as problems associated with the product, through research and usability testing (N=120), and (ii) the product environmental impact quantification, through the eco-indicator 99 method. Thus, the criteria to be incorporated into the product are defined with the aim of applying characteristics that point to improve the usability of the product, but also keeping them compatible with ecological solutions and therefore sustainable.
Keywords: Project Methodology, Sustainability, User-Centered Design, Ecodesign, Ergonomics.