Ergonomics Principles in Design

Prabir Mukhopadhyay holds a BSc Honours Degree in Physiology and an MSc Degree in Physiology with specialization in Ergonomics and Work Physiology both from the Calcutta University, India. He holds a PhD in Industrial Ergonomics from the University of Limerick, Ireland. Prabir started working with noted ergonomist Prof R.N. Sen, at the Calcutta University both for his Master’s Thesis and later on a project sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India... It was during this time Prabir developed a keen interest in the subject and wanted to build his career in ergonomics. He joined the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, India as an Ergonomist for one of the projects for the Indian Railways. There he was mentored by Dr S. Ghosal, the project lead. He then joined the same institute as a faculty in ergonomics. During his tenure at Ahmedabad, he worked on many consultancy projects related to ergonomics. Some of his clients there included the Indian Railways, Self Employed Women’s Association and the United Nation Industrial Development Organization. After working there for two years Prabir left for the University of Limerick, Ireland, on a European Union Funded Project under the supervision of Prof T. J. Gallwey. He completed his PhD in Industrial Ergonomics from the same University and decided to return to India to apply his acquired knowledge. He joined the National Institute of Design, Post Graduate Campus at Gandhinagar, India as a faculty in ergonomics. There he headed the Software and User interface Design discipline. He also completed a research project funded by Ford Foundation-National Institute of Design on ergonomics design intervention in the craft sectors at Jaipur in Rajasthan, India. Simultaneously he started teaching ergonomics across different design disciplines at other campuses of the institute like Ahmedabad and Bangalore as well. After working there for around five years, Prabir joined his present Institute as an Assistant Professor in the Design. He was later promoted to an Associate Professor and later became the Discipline head. He teaches practices and researches in different areas of ergonomics and its application in design. He has authored a book Ergonomics for the Layman: Application in Design, Published by CRC Press in 2019. He is a bachelor, and his hobbies include watching action movies, listening to Indian and Western Music, travelling and cooking.

Chapters
1. Introduction
Overview
1.1. Application of ergonomics in design
1.2. Ergonomics in tangible and intangible design
1.3. Where exactly in the design process ergonomics could be applied
1.4. Areas of ergonomic application in product, space and communication design
1.5. Thrust areas one must keep in mind while applying ergonomic principles in design
1.6. Documentation
1.7. Key Points
1.8. Practice session

2. Breaking the ice exercises
Overview
2.1. Identify ergonomics and design around
2.2. Note down the good and bad ergonomics in design around you
2.3. The way forward through ergonomic application in design
2.4. Template for assignments for data collection, synthesis, and analysis
2.4.1 Documentation and portfolio
2.4.2 Key Points
2.5 Practice session

3.Product Ergonomics
Overview
3.1 Ergonomics in simple product design
3.1.1Hammer
3.1.2Door handle
3.1.3Trolley bag handle
3.1.4Water bottle
3.1.5 Garden pruner
3.2 Bigger product
3.2.1 Refrigerator
3.2.2 Automated Teller Machine
3.2.3 Ladder
3.2.4 Water Faucet
3.2.5 Key Points
3.3 Practice session

4.Ergonomics in workspace
Overview
4.1 Groundwork
4.2 Shoe store
4.2.1 Layout
4.2.2 Flow of people in space
4.2.3 Fitting workstation
4.2.4 Seat height
4.2.5 Display racks
4.2.6 Storage area
4.2.7 Cash counter
4.3 Ergonomic issues
4.4 Ergonomic directions
4.5 Key Points
4.6Practice session

5.Ergonomics in moving space (Transportation)
Overview
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Some directions for ergonomics in moving space related projects
5.3 Ergonomic design intervention in the general compartment of railways
5.3.1 Movement of commuters
5.3.2 Task flow analysis
5.3.3 Ergonomic issues identified through direct observation
5.3.4 Emergency chain
5.3.5 Ladder for climbing the upper berths/seats
5.3.6 Layout of the compartment to enhance ease of movement and passenger comfort
5.3.6.1 Concept 1
5.3.6.2 Concept 2
5.3.6.3 Relaxed Seating
5.3.6.4 Final Concept
5.3. 6.5 Concept refinement
5.3.6.6 Rig Testing
5.4 Key Points
5.5 Practice session

6.Ergonomics in communication
Overview
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Some directions for ergonomics in communication design
6.3 Fire extinguisher
6.4 Pesticide packaging
6.5 Wayfinding map for a college campus
6.6 Ergonomics at homework station
6.7 Key Points
6.8 Practice session

7.Ergonomics in User Interface Design
Overview
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Some directions for applying ergonomic principles
7.3 Example 1: Ergonomic design of the interface of a blood pressure monitor
7.4 Example 2: Ergonomic design of a movie ticket vending machine interface
7.5 Example 3: Ergonomic design of the interface of a coffee vending machine on a college campus
7.6 Key Points
7.7 Practice session

8.Report and portfolio
8.1 Overview
8.2 Key Points

9.Application of mannequin in ergonomics
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Mannequins of different percentile values
9.3 Scale down grid boards which can be used for checking the designs either on paper or in the laboratory on the grid board to scale.
9.4 Usage of mannequin and grid boards for testing out the ergonomic design
9.5 Key Points

References