Rethinking Disability
Design is more about solving problems, but Lucy Jones is concerned with how to get better. This is a great idea to me, because often it is our consciousness that assumes that this is a problem, but as society evolves and philosophical concepts are introduced, the problem itself is not the problem, our design methodology is what causes the problem to exist. To take an example of disability, designers and scientists who solve disability problems think that disability is a problem, but disability is not a problem, they are a minority group. Many times we design to solve problems from the wrong point of view, we need to consider more than the design expression, but how to make each other live better.
In the article there is mention of medical examples, the 20th century was a turning point in the shift from functional to psychological needs, which meant that people's thinking started to turn to how to help people move around, rather than directly defining the source of the problem as the difference in behavior between the majority and minority groups. The development of products in society is tied to society, and disability clothing serves the human body. “The origins of research into clothing for people with physical disabilities in the twentieth century are entrenched in this idea of rehabilitation and self-help…Researcher Adeline Hoffman says that the idea of clothing as a rehabilitative tool in children’s hospitals began when doctors, therapists, and nurses found that the acts of dressing and undressing improved the physical and cognitive skills of children with disabilities”This unconscious behavior is actually the most important part of the user population research. This behavior also represents a medical awakening to the ways of recovery, as well.
The article mentions the development of the hospital training initiative for children, a moment in history when people transformed their perceptions, from solving their problems to how to make them better. “In the 1940s, a change in philosophy involved an increase in the teaching of independence skills, and clothing, together with the acts of dressing and undressing, became a key factor.” Regarding the psychological design, Lucy Jones wrote about doing a lot of aspects of the product to make it easier for users. speech-wheelchair related product design, but this product allows people with disabilities to feel better, they can go out and buy a drink on their own without needing a caregiver to help them get a cup.
Imagine if designers were how to make life better, not solve problems. Because the product design is tied to the psychology of the user of the product. I have two examples around me, one is hearing and one is someone who can't walk very well. They are my grandfather and grandmother. My grandfather didn't want to wear hearing aids and my grandmother didn't want to walk with crutches, the reason behind both is because they don't want others to think I am old and I have health problems. Therefore, we should pay more attention to the psychology of the user when designing, and structure-oriented products can achieve better results, and from the business perspective, the products can also sell better.
With regard to psychological design, Lucy Jones has done many aspects of design to make the product more user-friendly. For example, product design related to wheelchairs is not so much about how the wheelchair is designed to be more clever and ergonomic, too many engineers focus on that area, but more about what the person using the wheelchair really needs?This product by Lucy Jones allows people with disabilities to go out and buy a drink on their own, without needing a caregiver to help them carry the cup. Imagine a daily routine without having to hold a cup in your hand worrying about spilling water in a bag somewhere next to your wheelchair... a new minority lifestyle is defined!
The same feedback and back to the business perspective regarding Lucy Jones' hearing aspect of product design! Not just design and psychology! Specifically, the appearance of the product most directly affects whether consumers buy it or not. When we design a product, we are most basic in positioning the functionality of the product, which is undoubtedly a core aspect of price setting, but with the same or similar functionality, people are more willing to buy a product that looks good. I'm wearing this product because I'm sick, I'm old, I'm not like everyone else who has a problem... Instead, I tried this cool headset that made me feel like I was a hipster and a fine accessory, without the psychological burden. I think that's the point of design, to really serve people while being artistically expressive.
To sum up, I will define a good design direction based on making people's lifestyle better, then explore the problem, constantly reflect on design and the definition of a good lifestyle, and carry out self design critique. After that, I will think from a business perspective, experiment with business models in terms of functionality and aesthetics, and put them into the market after a lot of testing. I believe that this will be a very successful and quality product with design aesthetics and service to people!
