Yu Liu

Abstract

As citizens we all comprehend that an aging population is one of the biggest trends of our society in the 21st century and as designers, we should understand the significance of assistive products for geriatric use and provide in-depth research on how to optimize the social service system utilizing them.

My project started with a general open-topic survey, in order to record authentic daily inconveniences from seniors and select the direction that is most characteristic and has the most potential to be fully developed. The Overbed Table System Design not only redesigns an existing product, but reconsiders the complete service system in a wider working environment circle. I determined that design research was the priority implement to lead my proposal and cooperated with the local nursing home community from the beginning to the end.

The design process included topic background research, user and prevailing product research, problem definition, ideation, design advancement and specification. I arrange the information above in the first five chapters and discuss what I've learned from this significant project in the final chapter.

I hope my thesis design can be a practical example to elucidate how a product designer cares about the senior community and can originate new products or improve an existing product, which can help designers tackle other issues and make seniors' lives a little bit easier.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Tables--Design; Nursing home care--Equipment and supplies--Design; Older people--Services for

Publication Date

5-2014

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Industrial Design (MFA)

Department, Program, or Center

School of Design (CIAS)

Advisor

Stan Rickel

Advisor/Committee Member

Alex Lobos

Advisor/Committee Member

Gabe Hallancia

Comments

Physical copy available from RIT's Wallace Library at NK2740 .Y48 2014

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

IDDE-MFA

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