The design of a table suitable for children in the age of 2-10

For STEK a new table/desk that fits STEK’s look-and-feel had to be designed. This product should be suitable for longer use (children from 2 till at least 10 years of age) and can either have multiple (totally different) functions, or have a modular character. House visits gave insight in the target group, its habits, routines and needs (related to the use of a desk/table). It was also important to have empathy with the target group. It is evident, that especially after the age of 6, there is a growing need for the child to have a place of its own to retreat, alone or with friends. For children from 2-6, they prefer to have a place to play close to their parents. Design goal: The product provides the child in the age of 2 till 6 a place close to family life. This means that the child can join and watch activities of the parents and vice versa. This without decreasing the usability of the product for a child in the age 6 till 10. The product will have three ways of usability: 1. the use when the child is 2 till 6 2. the use when the child is 6 till 10 3. the transformation For the transformation an interaction vision was formulated: watering a plant’ Watering a plant is a mindless action which leads to a gradual process with a significant different result. The only thing is that you just have to remember to water the plant. Form language analysis showed what features to implement in the product-to-be-designed. These features (most important to STEK) are: - the stereotype look of the side view - the use of geometrical shapes - the 5° angle Related products (desks, in height adjustable desks, modular and multifunctional furniture) showed what ‘good’ and ‘bad’ features are and which are of interest for the product-to-be-designed. Three concept directions were generated: 1. Tables: a cupboard which includes tables with several heights for user in different age groups 2. Table-Couch: product with two functions i.e. a children’s table and a small couch 3. (coffee) tables: this table can be used by the family as a coffee table and by the children as a children’s table Iteration 1: concept direction By involving the user this early in the design process, the eventual result will be more suitable for the user. The goal of this first iteration is to gain the user’s opinion of the three product directions discussed in the previous chapter. The participants considered all three directions as practical. However, the (coffee) table has their preference. The parents like having the children close to them. Furthermore it is practical, due to optimal use of space. Before dismissing one direction, mock-ups of the three are made to make the ideas more tangible and to gain insight in the working principle and the dimensions. Tables was dismissed, due to the double use of material, its size and the fact that the user actually buys half an interior. Moreover, Tables fits the design goal less. For iteration 2 Experience & Use cues, 1:1 cardboard models were made. The goal of the research was to discover if the participant uses the product as expected, how they experience the use of the product in all its functions. After making several adjustments Table-Couch was dismissed, because the positioning of the product in the room was not as expected, not always close the ‘real’ couch. In the couch function, the position was not certain. Therefore this product fits the design goal less. The transformation was also not as mindless as was the case with the coffee table. Since the frequency of transformation is lower, this is not the decisive factor, but of influence on the end decision. Before arriving at the final design, multiple working principles of the (coffee) table were visualized. Decisive factors for the final principle were: - the absence of tilt and therefore the fixed leg of the bench - the two levels as a coffee table - the multiple storages spaces The final design is a coffee table with storage space under the table top (removable drawers are optional). A lower level for the placement of for example the newspaper and magazines is on top of the two benches. The table can be transformed into a children’s table by sliding out the benches. Under the seating area more storage space is present. The prototype is tested with the true target group of STEK; people who appreciate design and are willing to pay for it. The goal in the third iteration: Aesthetics & Use was to discover: - if the participant uses the product as expected - if the aesthetics appeal to them - how much they are willing to pay for it The children could easily teak a seat and all the storage compartments were used. It was obvious how the coffee table could be transformed to a children’s table, but the pushing and pulling did not go very smooth due the guidance method. The participant thought the table fits in the interior due to its neutral look. € 500,- would be a fair price according to the participant. After the research the prototype was adjusted. The guidance principle was changed to make the transformation smoother and to have a better connection between the benches.