Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
Assessing the Benefits of Early Stage Design Research
Thandapani,Selvan; Woodbridge,Richard
Type:
Year:
2011
Editor:
Chakrabarti, A.
Author:
Section:
Eco-Design, Sustainable Manufacturing, Design for Sustainbility
Page(s):
497-505
Abstract:
The benefits of user-centered design in design and testing for Base-of Pyramid (BoP) related products have been generally established. However, conducting extensive field tests in rural villages can be daunting. Besides the expense of conducting multiple field visits in remote locations, the process of transforming those design insights into amanufactured design change can take weeks, if not longer. These barriers can lead some firms to forego obtaining valuable user feedback during the initial design research process. Two case studies, based in Chennai, India, investigate the benefits of conducting ruralBoP product tests in an urban environment. Findings suggest that design insights gained from the urban families are as informative as similar tests conducted in rural settings. This report also offers insights on selecting users, field-testing new BoP products, effective user-centered design frameworks, rapid prototype fabrication, as well as limitations to this approach.
Keywords:
