SOFTSERV ICE CREAM
Ethnography
and Interaction Study - 1999
Project: Videotape people who interact with any kind of machine. After studying
their behavior, perform the user's actions exactly. Analyze what problems the
existing design has and come up with an improved solution. Perform the improved
design and elaborate why it's better.
My project was chosen and presented at the AIGA Advanced Conference by
Brenda
Laurel and also profiled in "Design
Research" (MIT Press, 2003).
Softserve
ice-cream machines have several problems. First, the user needs to hunch
down in order to see the nozzle. Second, the user can't maintain eye-contact
with customers while he's using the machine. Third, customer can't see
what flavor of ice-creams are available.
My design brings the softserve machine up + in front. Thin cylinders (thick
enough to keep ice-cream cold with freon gas) with clear windows reach down
to the user's eye level, where the dispensers are located. User's are able to
maintain eye-contact with customers and control the amount of ice-cream dispensed
whlie standing, without back-strain. Customers are also able to easily see what
flavors are available through the windows.
Instructor : Brenda Laurel
