2008 Workshops

Matt Zabel

 


ABSTRACT

HANDS ON: Human Factors Research

Much of the discussion surrounding Design Research focuses on methods of defining intangible characteristics intended to create emotional connections for the consumer. In this effort, approaches such as ethnography and co-creation have proven their value in collecting meaningful data. These tools are required because it is understood that emotional connections are dynamic and rapidly changing as trends and markets evolve and can only be captured through vigorous fieldwork.

While the emotional dimension of product experience is important, are we at risk of sacrificing the other side of product interaction – the physical experience? Characteristics such as weight, material, and texture are often viewed as technical details or the unavoidable consequence of engineering constraints. In this digital age, most designers only experience their products on computer screens or as SLA models. Final materials are rarely tested with consumers or even experienced by the designer. Specifications are often based on anthropometric databases and generic human factors guidelines, developed from decades-old data, as if these characteristics were static and unchanging.

Matt Zabel will present a hands-on workshop exploring how material, texture, and weight affect perception of quality, value, and desirability. Topics will include the importance of touch sensation in human development (haptics), the value of ergonomic details in enhancing the physical experience, and appreciation for the evolving physical characteristics of our population. A variety of products, objects, and materials will be used to provoke visceral reactions from workshop attendees and stimulate discussion about how design researchers can study the dynamic physical product experience.

BIO:


Matt is currently Human Factors & Design Research Manager at Brooks Stevens Inc., a full service product development firm in the Wisconsin and Minnesota (www.brooksstevens.com). Matt has worked as an industrial designer, ergonomist, and researcher in consultancies and entrepreneurial start-ups. With a BA/BFA in Psychology and Industrial design from the University of Kansas, and a MSD in Human Factors Research and a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology from Arizona State University, Matt provides a unique perspective on product design and research.

 

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