Product Design

From tape measures to aircraft seats, our product design ergonomics skills and experience have helped designers and manufacturers in many industries to create innovative and usable products. We can get involved at the early conceptual stage and provide a reality check on the ergonomics of design ideas.

However, testing with real users is the key to designing ergonomic products. Even early prototypes and mock-ups can be tested under controlled conditions in our facility to trap ergonomics problems and identify ways of improving the user experience. Most value is obtained when there is a working prototype or design which allows users to perform real tasks.

Product usability testing is an essential part of our human centred design approach. This approach, based on ISO 13407, aims to improve customer satisfaction and increase your sales. Testing can be carried out in our testing facility in central London or on location. In both scenarios, we video record the sessions to assess user behaviour and reactions.

Benefits

• Can be inexpensive - our early advice can take as little as a day, even user testing can take as little as three days to prepare, conduct a test and report on key findings
• Increases user acceptance and product success
• Provides detailed information on the user experience
• Allows quantitative data to be gathered on times and errors
• Can provide valuable, early information for marketing material.

Our approach

• Follows industry best practice and international ergonomics product standards - which we helped develop
• We work closely with design teams to anticipate and prevent user experience problems and enhance product usability
• Testing can be conducted at all stages from early concepts to fully functioning prototypes
• Clear and straightforward results presented in an easy to use format
• Practical recommendations - we will continue to work with you to improve your design.

Typical projects

We have provided ergonomic expertise used in the design of:

• An innovative drug delivery system, using medical staff to test prototype designs in hospitals and simulated operations
• An aircraft seat
• A new range of tape measures
• A non invasive cardiac output monitor developed by start up company with BIS funding. Trials took place in operating theatres and intensive care units with nursing and medical staff
• A prototype refrigerated milk float for Express Dairies
• ATMs and check-in desks for several high street banks and retailers.

For more information on any of our services, please contact us