First Aid Kit Design for Outdoor Sports

Abstract

The start point of the graduation project was including the RICE method inside the first aid kit, which was shifted to designing a first aid kit for outdoor sports. The new design focus is more valuable to develop a new product solving practical problems.
During the research phase, the literature research provides basic understanding of first aid kits, as well as the injury knowledge of the human body. It guides the project how and what the product should include and treat, making it sufficient and convenient for emergencies.
The interview and observation about outdoor sports are keys of scenario analysis. Helpful insights were obtained from videos and participants. The first design focus was found on how to apply treatment alone when one arm is injured and dysfunctional. Users have to apply treatment themselves with only one hand.
The second design focus comes from the evaluation of current first aid kit evaluation by going through all steps of treatments where all supplies are simply stacked and only designed to be used by two hands. The information obtained by users should be well arranged to improve the use efficiency.
To achieve the design goals, design focuses were detailed as a requirement list based on research insights. The whole product was divided into a few independent parameters, in which a few requirements should be fulfilled. Ideas were generated, compared and selected in each parameter and were integrated into a complete concept.
The concept was theoretically workable to be further developed in the next stage: concept validation. In this stage the concept was divided into different parts again, aiming to make cardboard or 3D printed prototypes for each parameter and help validate the concept through iterations respectively. The final design for each parameter was integrated into a complete product. The final prototype is a realistic and satisfying product, as proof of the concept that fulfils all design goals.
User tests and discussion were conducted as the last step of the project. Participants were observed if they can quickly understand the design and use it smoothly. They pointed out the defects of design and gave advice for further development.