Ergonomic gear knobs: a case study in teaching pleasure and attachment to design students

Abstract

This paper presents a reflective case study of a student learning experience in design and ergonomics that focuses on user-centred research methods. The project involved the design of novel gear knobs by final year design students. This article discusses the range of methods taught to design students, with a particular focus on emotional design and product attachment. The case study considers how the students selected and construed these methods when exploring the brief, and the impact on their ability to apply emotional elements to their design work. The paper concludes by offering a model indicating how to link user-centred research methods, emotional design and product attachment.