Enhancing the Bedroom experience for better usability — UX Case study
Design Thinking Project
As a Graphic Designer I always think twice before creating anything, that how this will impact users & how this will help them.
I was lucky enough that my mentor inspired me to learn UX & UI design, which is also known as “Design Thinking Process”. While searching for the right medium to learn, I came to know about GROWTH SCHOOL & ANUDEEP AYYAGARI who are taking the workshop on UX Design and UX Mastery course for helping many Designer to upgrade their skills to achieve a better career opportunities.
My journey with Growth School started in a unique way with a small project to start the learning from non textbook approach (NTA), which is mainly focused on understanding of a basics of Design Thinking Process (DTP). So, we were divided in small group of 6–7 members and each one has to select one area of home as our first small project.
Design Thinking is a process of solving problems in a highly user-centric manner and arriving at the best solutions for end-users. It has 5 stages, each stage we will get into detail further. But as this is a NTA (non-textbook approach), so let’s start the practical first & after that we will learn the basics of Design Thinking Process (DTP).
This project aims to get to know your users, identify their pain points and enhance their experience in the problem area. I chose Bedroom as my project because it’s the place where people want to relax. It should be comfortable. Currently many people are working from home and their bedroom is there office from last 14–15 months.
EMPATHIZE Stage
This is the first stage of the design thinking process. The purpose of this step is to get to know your user in the problem context, their behavior, needs, and problems. For this I chose to conduct one-to-one interviews with my users which is one of the common way. For this interview I have prepared few questions just to start conversation & understand their pain points in their bedroom.
1. Introduce yourself. Who are there in your family?
2. Do you have a separate bedroom or you share it with someone? What is the approx. area of your bedroom?
3. How much time do you spend in your bedroom? What do you like the most/dislike?
4. What kind of furniture you have in your bedroom?
5. How is the ventilation in your bedroom? How often you do re-structure/color the home?
6. In your bedroom do you have enough open area?
7. How do you feel in your bedroom?
8. Do you have plug point near your bed?
After my questions were ready, I planned & scheduled one-to-one interview calls with my group members as per their availability. I was noting down the conversation for future reference. All the group members were strangers So, first of all I have to make them bit comfortable so that they open-up and talk freely. Each interview call took around 35–40 minutes. After finishing all the interviews, I went through my notes multiple times to understand overall conversation to identify the problems of the users.
User-1.
He is 24 years old UX Designer staying in beautiful city of Rajasthan with his family. He was into animation & just now shifted his career to UX design. Listening to music is his passion. He love design as he feels he can express himself with design.
User enjoys his personal bedroom which is of approx. 150sq feet addition to that it has nice balcony & there is enough sunlight in the bedroom. For ventilation there is one window, fan and also in addition to that a/c is available. There is a brown colored bed which can be separated in to two separate and has storage underneath. Along with that he has dressing table & the wardrobe. They never added any furniture from last 11 years. He is working from his bedroom (WFH) from last 13 months & he spends around 23hrs in his bedroom. He is using old coffee table to keep his laptop for work. He feels more relaxed in his bedroom and its most favorite corner of the home.
User-2
He is 25 years old Graphic designer (he also worked as Video Editor) staying in Chennai with his family. He is planning to shift his carrier for better opportunities. He loves to play games & watch we series.
User share his bedroom with his sister which is of approx. 130sq feet. There is a big bed with 4 pillars in the bedroom which doesn’t have any storage space in it. Also there is a a/c, some shelves to keep stuff & wooden desk for working in his bedroom. He has purchased a office chair recently. He is spending approx. 20hrs in his bedroom as he is working from his bedroom from last 14months (WFH). He feels comfortable in his bedroom.
User-3
User is 25 years old UI Developer (has done Computer Science) and she lives with her family lives in green city of Kerala. She like to listen Music, Watch Movies, Travel, reading fictions.
She shares her bedroom which is of approx. 150sq feet, with her sibling. There is a brown colored nice wooden bed, the wardrobe, working desk & a chair. For ventilation there are two large windows & fan exactly above the bed. She is spending approx. 20hrs in her bedroom as her bedroom is her office from last 14 months (WFH). View of greenery from the window of her bedroom, she miss the most.
User-4
User is 29 years old home maker & mother of 1.5 years old sweet daughter. She is a home maker & on break from last 3 years. She stay at Chennai with family. She is planning to restart her professional career.
She stays in 2.5bhk home & spends almost 12hrs a day in her bedroom & play with her daughter. In her bedroom she has bed, wardrobe, clothing closet, Air-purifier, nice queen size bed. She likes to move & shift the position of all the furniture every month. She doesn’t feel relaxed in her bedroom. She has to keep a/c on for 14hrs a day because of hot weather. Ventilation is the main issue her bedroom.
User-5
User is student, (final year of Computer Engineering) & lives with his family, in Mumbai. He likes to swim & play games.
User enjoys a separate bedroom and spends his 16hrs in his bedroom doing study & playing games on Computer. His bedroom has big bed with storage underneath, study table, chair, wardrobe, washing machine. For ventilation there are two large windows & fan exactly above study table. He wants one extra desk for Gaming set up in his bedroom. Lack of storage space, Plug point near bed & open space is the issue in his bedroom.
After completing all interviews, I realized that all users are different than the other & each one have different set-up (arrangements) in there bedroom.
DEFINE Stage
This is the second stage of the Design Thinking process. After empathizing Stage, the next thing is to find out all possible problems with the user. I have noted down the basic problems (pain point) on the basis of our conversations (interview),
The problems identified were:
1. Nice working desk & office chair is required to work in comfortable way.
2. Window dis required for fresh air & good Ventilation.
3. Lack of storage space, plug point near bed for Mobile charging
4. Open space is the issue in his bedroom.
5. View of greenery from the window in bedroom is required.
6. Fan near working desk can be advantage.
7. One extra desk is required.
IDEATE Stage
This is the third stage of the Design Thinking process. Now we have all possible problems with the users in their bedroom area. To find out solutions for all identified problems, there is one technique called CRAZY 8 (you must come up with 8 ideas in 8 minutes).
Few of the ideas for the above-identified problems are:
1.Folding murphy bed from Ikea/Urban Ladder.
2.Nice working desk & Comfortable height & arm adjustable chair
3. Foldable study table to keep laptop on bed to work with ease.
4. Electric plug point near bed for charging Laptop & Mobile.
5. Good lighting near work desk & on the roof or near the bed.
6. Small indoor plants which requires less maintenance.
7. Nice Painting on the wall or near work desk.
8. Favorite wallpaper on the wall.
9. Remove unwanted stuff from the bedroom.
10. Mobile holder / Tripod/ Gorilla stand near bed.
11. Snacks & water, near work desk for refreshment.
12. Exhaust fan for ventilation.
While doing my research at the initial stage of the case study and by analyzing the problems of the users, I found out that there are some of the common issues like lack of open space, storage space, work desk, wardrobe. For the time being let’s focus only on the top 3 ideas that can solve the common issues with the users:
Idea 1: Folding murphy bed + Sofa from Ikea
Most of my users have faced challenges regarding space in the bedroom, where they spend around 15–20hrs of time. Approx. size of the bed is 30 Sq. ft. (5x6 Sq. ft.) to 36 feet(6x6 Sq. ft.). So, folding murphy bed + sofa will give them option to fold the bed when it’s not needed. This will help them getting approx. 25 Sq. ft. extra space in the bedroom. Also, when bed is not in use, they can seat on sofa. There are both type of beds available in the market, Single bed or double bed. User can but that as per there need.
Idea 2: Height adjustable (folding) working desk and comfortable height & arm adjustable chair.
While working on a computer /laptop continuously for 8–10hrs a day, we need proper table on which we can keep our desktop or laptop for better eye-sight & proper chair for right posture, so that we can work comfortably for more time.
Idea 3: Snacks & water, near work desk for refreshment.
I would like to suggest some space to keep the Snacks & water near work desk as when we are in front of the screen continuously for many hours, we normally forgot to drink water or eat something in regular interval because of which we feel dehydrated and it affect on our health. We feel tired very soon.
PROTOTYPE Stage
This is the forth stage of the Design Thinking process. 1st Idea is taken ahead to make the prototype, as it solves the problem of the majority of the users.
After some research on internet and after some thought process on few ideas from multiple sources, I reached at this prototype — folding murphy bed + sofa for seating, from Ikea.
Reason for choosing this Idea:
This bed is light in weight and can be easily (effortlessly) folded and unfolded depending upon the requirement. After getting fold, user can use the sofa for seating purpose. For better clarity I have shown few images of the similar product (folding bed + sofa for seating) which is available in the market.
TESTING Stage
This is the forth stage of the Design Thinking process. It’s most important stage of whole exercise, but the result of all your handwork, depends upon the feedback of users. They might like & might not. Depending upon the feedback we might have to make the required changes as per the need, redesign it and test it again (follow the same process again).
For testing the prototype, again I set up a call with entire group for presenting the prototype & getting the feedback from them. My idea /solution received appreciation from the users but I got few queries like…
1. Can we have foldable working desk?
2. What will be the cost of this bed?
3.We prefer sofa cum bed rather than folding bed.
4. Instead of Sofa can we have storage space?
5. What will be the weight of the bed?
FUTURE SCOPE (Next Steps)
The users also suggested some modifications which I accepted as constructive feedback.
The first thing I will be doing is I’ll search for more better alternate of foldable furniture like foldable working desk, movable wardrobe, storage space etc.
The second thing will do is interview with more users (with the difference of Age, Gender, City/Village) to understand the user behavior in deep way.
LEARNINGS & CONCLUSION
At the very beginning of the workshop, ANUDEEP (MASTER OF THIS COURSE) taught us a main and very important rule “YOU ARE NOT THE USER”. But after completing this project I got to know the real meaning of this MAIN RULE. The second rule is “UNLEARN PRECONCEPTIONS”.
This is my first project, but it was filled with great learning about the basics & thumb rule of “Design Thinking Process”. I believe, Design is subjective, there is always a chance to improve. This is just a Start of new beginning, I have to go far & learn a lot from many experienced people.
Thank you for reading this. Please share your valuable time to give feedback, it will help me to grow.
#Student4Life
#NTA
