Bengels

Abstract

This graduation report shows the design process followed during designing new playground equipment for Boer Speeltoestellen in Nieuwendijk. The assignment for this project was: Develop a new product for outdoor playground equipment for the Dutch sub-urban environment, that interacts on a multi-sensory level with both boys and girls in the age of six to nine years. While focus lies on this target group, it should be possible for younger and less able-bodied children to understand the product and participate in the play. The product should help children develop their skills, but learning should not be the main goal of the design. Above all, the design should follow the ‘rules’ for play, characteristics derived from child psychologists’ theories. Take into account that the design should have the influence that children are and stay motivated to play actively, hereby improving physical exercise and their health. Literature was frequently used during the analysis of the market, the company and the target group. These analyses led to many good results. In order to investigate the requirements and criteria of the target group, the contextmapping method has been used. By sensitizing children from the target group with assignment booklets (cultural probes) about the subject of ‘playing outdoors’ and having sessions with Velcro modelling (building your own playground equipment with objects that are covered with velcro) afterwards, a large amount of rich information was gathered. Important conclusions from the analysis phase and contextmapping phase have been used to compose a list of requirements and criteria. These contain directions for production, safety, aesthetics, play and ergonomics. The list is important: the product should meet the requirements, besides this it should also meet as many criteria as possible. Next, sketches have been made and brainstormsessions have been held in order to come to new ideas. By ranking the best ideas, three were selected and developed further. Of these three concepts, one quickly dropped out because of safety regulations (Klim-op). The other two (Tuimel and Bengels) were compared with each other by using a Harris profile and the Weighted objectives method. By using the mentioned methods, Bengels was chosen being the best concept. Bengels is a product in which a seesaw and swing function are combined, along with some sensory experiences. The concept has then been developed further into a detailed product proposal, hereby proving that the product is viable. In order to test the mechanism, a prototype has been built at the factory of Boer. This prototype has been evaluated by the designer, after which a couple of recommendations have been drawn up. The mechanism in the prototype worked as expected, but should be tested more to be sure it will also be working in the real product. However, most important of all is what the children think of Bengels: by letting children from the target group play with the prototype, it became clear that they liked to play with it. It can be concluded that Bengels fulfils the assignment and with a few adjustments, Bengels could potentially become a good product with a new combination of interactions.