Hostel Study Tables

Design evaluation & behavioural study of the study tables in hostel rooms provided at National Institute of Design, Madhya Pradesh using mixed media research methods

Collaborative project developed by: Aaditya Sansanwal, Aniket Pal, Asta Jain, Nicy Georgi, Samruddhi Pahune

NID MP
hostel Study Tables

Cultural probes

A research method where a user group is provided with an artifact and their interaction with the it is used to gain insights on the group's day-to-day life under mundane circumstances.

Hostel room study tables at NIDMP acted as a cultural probe to the students

Parts of the table

Although meant to be a study table for design students, the table fundamentally had many issues with its workability, accessibility, light hindrance and comfort.

Owing to these issues, the users were quick to take them apart.

One student in possession of a screw driver simply thought to dismantle and the rest followed suit.

And hence, the same table was dismantled and interacted with in very diverse manners.

ANALYSIS OF STUDENT BEHAVIOUR

Qualitative research

Photo Documentation

Sample size: 108 (69 females & 39 males)

Room layout study

Sample size: 108 (69 females & 39 males)

Modifications

Addition

Subtraction

Alteration

Parts of the table are dismantled, scattered & arranged all around the room.

An additional work table (classroom tables) are brought into the room for workspace.

A part of the table is dismantled and removed from the whole table.

Semi-Structured Interview - insights

Sample size: 17 (11 females & 6 males)

Minor interventions can have mimetically spreading influence on our perception of objects, albeit with each iteration reflecting the user's identity

Individuals tend to project their identity on spaces around them

Disassembly improves accessibility and promotes usability

Gender influences the decision making of users on the spatial distribution

ANALYSIS OF STUDENT BEHAVIOUR

Quantitative research

Sample size: 82

To validate the Insights obtained through qualitative analysis and semi-structured interview with a comparatively larger sample size.

Minor interventions can have mimetically spreading influence on our perception of objects, albeit with each iteration reflecting the user's identity

Individuals tend to project their identity on spaces around them

Disassembly improves accessibility and promotes usability

Gender influences the decision making of users on the spatial distribution

RESULTS

From the study & analysis, a few parameter were identified that has to be kept in mind while designing college study tables that can be used as guidelines for the same

Proper posture

Ample workspace area

Proper lighting

Customizability

IDEATIONS

Keeping in mind the above found parameters, variation ideations iterations were developed on multiple tangents by making changes to original design & coming up with new designs

FINAL DESIGN

CORE FEATURES OF THE DESIGN

Customisability

Versatility

Modularity

LIMITATIONS OF THE DESIGN

Immovable and rigid in terms of placement in a space

Takes up space on the wall even if its not needed

Changing positon of the storage units needs the user to take them out and place in from either ends only

PROTOTYPING

A small prototype with lesser units was made using MDF, wood and stainless steel. The purpose of prototyping was to do user testing , feedback generation and improvising of the final design.

TESTING

After making the design prototype , we came up with a testing methodology where we carefully chose the sample size and questions based and synthesized from the mixed method approach we did in preliminary research stage.

LIMITATIONS OF TESTING

Lack of access to test in actual surroundings

Small sample group

Lack of actual materials and use of proxy materials

CONS OF DESIGN (POST-TESTING) & SOLUTIONS

Immovable and rigid in terms of placement in a space

Storage for sheets

Adjusting the table at different angles

SOLUTIONS

The table can be made to fit on an independant frame instead of the wall to allow for movement around the room

A thin storage can be introduced beneath the working table surface to facilitate the storage of the sheets

The table mechanism under the table can be modified in a way that it can offer two working angles for the user to choose from

FUTURE SCOPE OF DESIGN

Use of design in other scenerios & contexts

Railing & joinery mechanism can be applied to a bigger area to increase customisabilty

Opportunities for a variety of storage unit types using the same joinery