| Summary: | This report describes the theory, methodology and results for a Master Thesis at Luleå University of Technology that is done in cooperation with AB Electrolux, Fabric Care. The authors notice that the existing methods for product development are not satisfying when working with a Design for All approach and want to develop a new methodology. Electrolux, on their hand, is interested in investigating the laundry process from a broad perspective with a wide variety of users in mind. Changes towards an older population in the western societies and differences in personal values between generations are considered driving forces to develop products with increased usability. Studies of extreme users and demands are considered to be a way to innovation and increased product value for everyone. The project is divided into three parts with different objectives: Methodology development, Identification of problem areas/product opportunities and a product concept development. Meetings with experts in the field of cognition and mobility are carried out, together with literature studies, in order to get important knowledge for the methodology development. For the two other parts of the project an extensive user research is carried out including initial observations and interviews followed by feedback meetings. Also brainstorming sessions, exit analysis, user characteristics guide, workbook and scenarios are used to gain user insights and ideas. Three results are presented, one for each part of the project. The resulting methodology is a User Characteristics Guide which aims to make user characteristics more present in the product development process and by that, increase the usability in new products. The resulting problem areas/product opportunities within the laundry process are: 1. Laundry Storage – Sort – Decide – Load 2. Storage of clean and used clothes 3. Hang drying, space effective and flexible The resulting product concept is a Laundry Assistant which meets the user needs and demands in the first problem area, ...
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