Design Process

Co-Design and Ideations

This page outlines the steps we took throughout our design journey with our case owner. Our goal was to develop a product that supports our case owner in his daily life as someone with a visual impairment.

To not make any assumptions, we decided to heavily involve him in our co-design session. On this page, we share how we prepared and conducted the co-design session, as well as how the insights shaped our design direction.

Topic Definition

Ideation was done on several topics that seemed viable to provide solutions for. From the interview it was gathered that these topics are transport, use of appliances in unknown environments, online accessibility and as the case owned had specifically requested, a solution to improve the ergonomics when holding the iPad for a prolonged period of time.

Transportation

To help the conductor navigate his surroundings, the group came up with an idea that includes a bike that has sensors around the bike, haptic feedbacks and to help him gain awareness of his surroundings.

Assisting iPad Use

Since the conductor is reliant on his iPad and complained about the pain that prolonged usage can cause, we came up with a few solutions that can potentially tackle these pain points.

This iPad charger mimics the mechanism of a toaster, helping him with managing his battery level and pops the iPad up when the charging is done - Just like a toaster.

Since touch screen interface can be difficult to navigate for the conductor, we proposed to provide an alternative way to navigate the interface by physical sensors.

The conductor also complained about the pain that can occur around his neck and arms with prolonged iPad usage. So we devised a iPad stand that can assist him with with holding the iPad in a distance that is comfortable for him.

Aiding the conductor's daily life

Since we did not know if the conductor struggles with operating appliances, we also proposed some ideas in regards to helping him navigate his daily routines.

This idea includes several NFC stickers that can be stuck onto buttons of appliances that is paired with a ring. The ring can scan the stickers and read the functions of the button out loud so that the conductor would not have to read the button close up to understand them.

In addition, the design has the potential to be standardized and used on different appliances, so that he can understand them in settings outside of his house.

In this design, a system is proposed where tiny speakers can be stuck onto different objects, and sound can be played when the remote, app or assistant is used.

Co-Design Session

In this session, we try to answer the question "What kind of product or service could support our case owner in improving his daily life?"

Rather than deciding for him, we wanted to explore options with him through direct interaction. We aimed to tackle challenges or discomforts he would like to address, and to find a direction that felt both relevant and meaningful to him.

Context of the Session

The session took place in the conductor's home, where he feels most comfortable in and where daily routines can be observed realistically. 4 members of the group went to his house and presented the directions that we had at the time, and although he seemed open to all of them, he was more interested in developing an idea that can help him comfortably use his iPad for a prolonged period of time.

Exploring Design Directions

To kick off the co-design session, we presented 2 potential directions to the conductor:

1. Solutions related to transportation and independence

2. Ways to use the iPad more comfortably for longer periods

While the conductor is intrigued by the transportation direction, he was leaning towards improving the comfort and usability of his iPad setup. This preference guided the rest of the session.

Materials & Making

We introduced a set of tactile materials—Lego bricks, polymer clay, bendable metal rods, tape, and a life-size cardboard iPad mock-up to facilitate idea generation. The conductor engaged actively, offering feedback and helping shape the prototypes with his hands and voice.

One early idea focused on a futuristic concept of projecting the iPad screen into a pair of glasses. The conductor appreciated the creativity of this “outside-the-box” idea, but the focus soon shifted to more realizable solutions after. We also proposed an ergonomic iPad case that can be attached to the arm of the conductor, but he voiced his discomfort from holding the iPad for extended periods and this idea would not solve the issue.

We brainstormed ways to support the iPad using external structures. like having a physical stand to hold the iPad on a table closer to his face, and having a way to carry the iPad without straining the arms using back support. This option sparked creativity for the group and the case owner, where the metal rods were used to create supports that go over the shoulders and are connected around the back. Lego bricks were also used to fasten a band made out of tape. The goal when using these was to find a position for the iPad that allows the neck to be in a neutral position. Once this was found and measured, ideas were discussed on how to adjust the range of motion of the holder to accommodate 3 different contexts.

Use Scenarios

Magnifying Mode
- The iPad is used like a digital magnifier in places like the theatre. The device should be easily transportable and adjustable, again keeping the neck neutral.

Conversation/Presentation Mode
- The iPad sits slightly lower, making it easy to switch between using it and engaging with others nearby.

Graphic of conversation or presentation mode

Working Mode
- The user interacts frequently with the screen (e.g., zooming, tapping). This requires free movement of the hands and stable screen positioning.

Further Considerations

During the session, we experimented with mounting the support rods on the bottom of the iPad for convenience. For the final design, we considered both side and bottom attachments to allow greater flexibility for hand movements and interaction.

We also found inspiration in drum harness for marching band. Since they are designed to comfortably carry weight while allowing front-facing usability.

In addition, the conductor also expressed a preference for a clean, minimal aesthetic and mentioned an appreciation for natural materials and design elements. To capture his style preferences, we documented visual references and developed a mood board.

Ideation

With the insights gained from the co-design session, we started the ideation process with the design challenge in mind:

Creating a portable, comfortable and easy-to-use
iPad holder to promote ergonomic use in different
contexts.

Requirements

From the analysis interview we were able to uncover requirements for the conductor's design. Initially these were very broad, but as the process progressed more specific requirements related to the concept idea were described.

These are categorized into usage, design, safety and mechanical requirements. Here the most important ones shall be covered. For further information see here.

Usage:
- The product shall be usable in at least three different positions: The conductor mentioned during analysis that he uses his iPad in three main positions; thus, the design should accommodate this.
- The product shall be physically and cognitive ergonomically friendly: The main function of the product is to inhibit discomfort of the conductor from using the iPad for prolonged periods of time.
- The product can be used in multiple situations: To align with different daily contexts of use such as sitting in a theater, moving around while presenting and sitting at a desk while working.
Design:
- The design should be user friendly towards visually impaired people: by minimizing parts needed to execute different functions and making the parts of the product recognizable by shape, other senses than vision can be used for proper use of the product.
- The design shall be comfortable for all uses: in the previously mentioned positions and contexts the design should be comfortable to use.
Safety:
- The user shall not get stuck in the product due to moving objects
- The product shall be stable, and safe to not fall over when used during movement
- The product shall hold the iPad securely
Mechanical:
- There shall be a maximum of 3 manual mechanisms in the design: to keep the product easy to use
- The mechanisms should have common affordances: the user should be able to identify what to do by the shape of the product by recalling this from previous affordances associated with the same form.

Existing iPad Stands in the Market

Ideation Overview