Redesigning the Coffee Mug

Paul RitcheyHF Methods & Analysis

UHCL

Background

• Why the Coffee Mug?– Commonly Used–Mugs are versatile– Simple base design

• Personal reasons:– background in ceramics– interested in simplistic design

Goals

• Keep the good:–What do people like about the standard

coffee mug?• Identify problems:–What are the problematic design elements?– How can these problems be fixed?

• Objective: Develop a prototype from collected data

Understanding the User’s Domain

• Designing for the General Population– Except Children

• User Profile:Age: 18+Hand Width: m = 8cm(Hand Width was measured across the bottom knuckles)

Task Analysis

• Participants executed 3 tasks with the generic coffee mug (n = 5)– adding and stirring contents of mug– simulated drinking from mug–washing the mug

Semi-structured Interview

• Participants were interviewed individually, after performing the task analysis

– Questions covered elements like: Exterior Form, Interior Form, and the Handle.

Common Comments Possible Solution

“….should have a curved inside bottom”

Curve the interior base

“would be nice to have some texture” / “boring”

Add some texture

Handle is too small Increase the negative space of the handle

Height and Diameter is fine. Maintain the height and diameter

Form is fine Maintain the basic cylinder form

Visualizing the Design Solution

• Created a medium fidelity, form-study prototype – created requirements from data gained during

interviews• Requirements

– Negative space of the handle shall be 8 - 9cm in height and 3-4cm in width

– Handle width shall be between 1.8cm and 2.3cm– Base form shall be a straight vertical cylinder

– Base form shall have a 7 – 8cm interior diameter

– Base form shall be 11 – 12cm in height

– Base form shall have a ribbed-textured exterior

– Interior base shall be curved to fit the contour of a standard tablespoon

Evaluating the Design

• Re-interviewed participants with new prototype (n = 5)

– Overall response was positive– Participants noted it was an improvement

on the generic mug– But still flawed..

Comments on Prototype 1.0Element Comments SolutionsTextured Exterior

+ “The grooved exterior is good for grip, but it should also help when the mug is really hot”-“ I like it, but I’d rather them be wider apart, finger width”- “More rounded”

Wider, rounder bands instead.

Handle + “The mug feels more comfortable when I use the handle, it's much roomier now”+ “Oooo, I love the handle”

Don’t’ Change

Exterior Bottom

-“[bottom] seems unfinished”-“should have a foot, and not a center foot”- “foot should be more proportional”

foot the piece at the edge of the bottom

Interior Bottom

+ “Very nice” Don’t Change

Height + Good Height Don’t Change

Diameter - “A bit wider, so it’s easier to clean” Increase the Diameter

Thickness/Weight

-“Too heavy”-“the walls are too thick”+ “…good thickness”

Thin the walls, and curve the form inward at the base

Form + “fine, the symmetry is good”- “it should curve inward near the base”

Curve the form inward at the base

Lip - “The lip needs to be totally smooth” Smooth the lip of the form

Revisiting the Requirements• Requirements

– Negative space of the handle shall be 8 - 9cm in height and 3-4cm in width

– Handle width shall be between 1.8cm and 2.3cm– Base form shall be a straight vertical cylinder that curves inward 2 –

2.5cm from the bottom

– Base form shall have a 8 – 9cm interior diameter

– Base form shall be 11 – 12cm in height

– Base form shall have a smooth banded texture, with grooves 1 – 1.5cm apart

– Interior base shall be curved to fit the contour of a standard tablespoon

– The form shall be footed with an interior relief.

– The lip of the form shall be smooth

– The base form’s walls shall be less than .5 cm in thickness

Next Time…

• More interations• Much more detailed targeted discussion

about the prototype• Finalize the prototype with glaze, and then fire

for a final product.– 10% Shrinkage