Lakus
This website is a Webportfolio of the Project Designing for Specific Users in Module 7 of the Bachelor Industrial Design Engineering at the University of Twente. The intention is to design something for and with a handicapped user that supports them in their daily lives. This website documents the process of designing, prototyping and evaluating the product Lakus.
The product A catheter bag is a bag that is a medical replacement to the bladder of the patient. It takes over the function of storing the urine and also being easy to empty into the toilet for the user. However one function the badder has, that is not replaced, is the urge to pee when your badder is full. This can lead to some difficult situations for catheter users. An overflow of the bag can not only lead to embarrassing situations, but is also not optimal from a hygiene kind of view. That is where Lakus comes in play. Lakus is a product that can detect when the catheter bag is full and notifies the user accordingly.
Context Mapping
People with disabilities nowadays have more opportunities to participate in life. Assistive technologies are one of the innovations that make this possible, along with Human Centred Design. The youngest improvement is the increasingly used Co-design process. This study uses these methods together with a participant suffering from CRPS type 1 and arthrosis in the hands. Together, with the participant, three main problems were found. It was decided to find a solution for the catheter problem, developing a product to indicate when the bag is full.
Co-design
The difference between a co-design project and a design project is that the co-designer takes part in the design process itself. This makes sure that the product will fit the wishes and needs of the co-designer and match her preferences.
Ideation
The ideation phase of the project goes into creating and shaping ideas into a final product. Here you can read through the process that was taken to find, discover and create the ideas that lead to the prototype and final product ideas.
Prototype
In this project multiple prototypes were made to test and confirm different concepts and ideas. These prototypes were tested by the group and the co-design user to find as many flaws and points of improvement as possible.
Final product
This is the final product that developed from this project. Including visualizations and the principles that entail the Lakus.
Evaluation
In the evaluation of this project an evaluation plan for the product was made. Furthermore, a product vision was created. This includes ideas and plans for if the product were to be developed further. Lastly, a reflection from the team on how the project went, what could be improved and what went right.
Group 14
Hi, we are Jeroen, Annika, Thom, Ghislaine, Xiaoang and Thijs. We are 6 Industrial Design Engineering Bachelor students of the University of Twente. All 6 of us are motivated designers trying to design for a brighter future.
