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Design Consultancy PDD Pankhurst Design and Development (PDD) - with SeymourPowell Contracted by PDD, the international product definition, design, development and production firm, iD4 contributed to the development of observational behaviour research and also worked closely with ergonomic development for buttons and controls. |
Ergonomic and structural packaging:
Using SDRC Ideas parametric modelling to design injection moulded parts to house electronic and controller modules, iD4 helped engineer Seymour Powells aesthetic foam models into functioning products, engineering the controls and structural packaging for feel, quality and action.
The designers looked at button throws/action, haptic and tactile feedback, crafting buttons for topology, mapping, surface of button, blind feel, gap lines for tectonics, mechanisms, clasps and hinges in plastic .
Engineering design was considered for mass manufacture and employed Stereo Lithographic Prototyping and accurate 3D models for FEA analysis.
Time Lapse Analysis: Observational behaviour
While working with PDD, we looked at models of analysis for observational behaviour which helped comprehends the theatre of a product in use. Compartmentalising the stages of a product in use, helps to develop a products quality through engineering a premium experience. Using the hidden needs presented to us by the end users behaviour.
Alec Robertson's intellectual model of time/use and Edward De Bono`s "Soft systems methodology" were used to make observational research a more effective design method at PDD.
Putting research information into context can reveal a product's function - a vital process in design selection. PDD opened their observational research unit in London in 2000 and use it to scrutinize behavioural aspects for specification.
Pressing the right buttons
“When research information is put into the context of product development it not only reveals a product's function but is a vital process in design selection.”
