Micro Kitchen 5023 Project B
Nick Gingerich
Lindsey Wilson College Professor Chris Quin December 2014
Index Part 1
3
Part 2
4
Part 3
13
Part 4
16
Part 5
22
Project Brief
Visualization & Conception
User Testing
Revision
Finla Comps
New York City—it offers everything at your fingertips. But like many metropolitan areas across the globe, those opportunities are also making our world smaller. Increasing urbanization and population growth are bringing us closer together—literally. The home size is decreasing while rent and mortgages are increasing. Even so, that modest space shouldn’t equate to a reduction in functionality, living standards or a reflection of personal style. In this porject, I have designed a kitchen that makes great use of space, and connectivity. A multifacited design embodies the perfect Micro-Kitchen.
Part 1 Project Brief
Part 2
Visualization & Conception - Inspiration
To begin the creative process I started looking at examples of tiney kitchens in many envirments like: Tiney Houses, Boats, and R.V.’s. I also drew insperation from modular design, which I think is best exemplified by Lego.
Part 2
Visualization & Conception - Layout
Here are the front and top veiws of the kitchen layout. This kitchen is designed to fit in a space 7ft. wide, 8 ft. tall, and 25 inches deep, the average size in a small urban apartment,
Part 2 Visualization & Conception
- Counter Screen
Because all of the appliances in the kitchen will be managed through a single control panel it is imporatnt to establish a panel layout and basic icons.
Part 2
Visualization & Conception
- Flow Chart
This is the praliminary flow chart. Visually mapping out all of the functions of the appliances, and flow of usability. This chart will evolve with testing and revision.
Part 2 Visualization & Conception
- Low Fidelity Wireframes
Low Fidelity wireframes not only provide the basic visual structer to the kitchen control concept, but also a starting point for testing.
All six low-fidelity wireframes were laid out on a table and four tester were each given a task to accomplish. Individually each tester attempted to complete their task and after their attempt they were asked for feedback.
Part 3
Visualization & Conception
-User Testing Name: Jim Age: 65 Profession: Administrator Task: Boil Water Error: Did not return to home screen between range and sink controls. Comments: None
Name: Christina Age: 52 Profession: Social Work Task: Bake a Pie Error: None Comments: Display is slightly confusing, lots of options, not sure what is for oven or microwave. There should be a delay start option on oven and dishwasher.
Name: David Age: 9 Profession: None Task: Wash Dishes Error: Did not select a setting on washer control before pressing start. Comments: Dishwasher at his house has a pre-programmed setting, just load and press start. Maybe this should be and option with this design as well.
Name: Liz Age: 37 Profession: Educator Task: Microwave Popcorn Error: None Comments: When the home button is used does that shut off the appliance automatically? Comments: None
Part 4
A
- Medium Fidelity wireframes
B
Revision
C
D
Here I have wireframes of the home screen in various states: A. is at rest and with no active appliance B. depicts the oven icon as it may look in a rollover or hover state C. represents how an icon may behave when being tapped D. is the expansion of the icon as it moves from the home screen to an active window
Oven
After user testing I decided that It would be wise to break the oven and microwave functions from the same screen. Because both functions are housed in the same appliance, I thought it best to keep one Icon for both on the home screen, and make the first screen in the activated appliance a select function screen.
Microwave
Part 4
Revision
- Additional Notes
You may notice in the Medium Fidelity wireframes that I eliminated the home icon, this is because I was considering a drag and drop option to exit the active window. This concept was scrapped in the final stage of development.
Part 4 Revision
- Revised Flow Chart
After feedback and prototyping this flow chart represents how the final interface will work. Now there is not only navigation from just the home screen to the active appliance windows, but between the appliances as well. Additionally the microwave and oven are stand alone features, and no longer nested together.
Part 5 Final Product