Is size all that matters?
When it comes to ergonomics, sizing obviously plays an important part. We regularly use Anthropometric data to help us design solutions to meet ergonomic needs. It is fundamental that when a product is being proposed as a solutions, the designer must always keep in mind the person that the product is designed for.
With Covid-19 came the mass exodus from the office space to working from home, and with that came the juxtaposition of the challenge of working in an often more confined space, with the ability for the individual to not have to ‘fit in’ to the corporate aesthetic landscape.
People could choose a piece of furniture that fitted them better than the standard model which they had back in the corporate address, and maybe addressed their needs on a more personal level.
So, people were able to choose size and function over the way something looked, but did this happen?
Well, in some cases it did, but in many cases we saw people buying solutions which matched the curtains more than it matched their needs. We cannot escape the acceptance of a solution in an environment because of how we feel about it; it is also an important ergonomic principle.
The solution is two fold.
We need to address this in the design of anything deemed helpful to someone as a suitable adjustment, be it a chair, a light, or a laptop stand. This is so that besides function and size, it is also something that people will want to use.
We also need to educate people as to why fit and function is important and included as part of the choice, so that they don’t make a decision purely based on the way something looks.
