Designers need to make products that are functional, useable and safe. In order for designers to achieve this they must have an understanding of the physical and psychological characteristics of humans. As Porter 2002 finds, the tools and data of ergonomics and their use, in particular those of anthropometry, are an essential part of industrial design education. Students need to understand both how to apply the data appropriately and the limitations of the use of such data.
Design students use various reference guides while designing their products, it is often difficult for them to see the full effect of these measurements on their design. The standard information is presented in a static two-dimensional format via books and diagrams. It is my intention to take a key product such as a shopping trolley and use it as an example for the e-learning tool. The course will go through the design of a trolley and all the areas of the body that should be considered in relation to biomechanics and anthropometrics. This will act as a prototype for the e-learning tool that can be developed into a full product.
I have chosen to use 3D software to produce the graphics as a teaching aid for students because 3D has become a visual vocabulary for many of our students as a result of its widespread use in entertainment, in both games and film. Because the area of biomechanics and anthropometrics relies heavily on facts and figures it is my aim to use multimedia graphics to communicate the effects of this information in a visual format.