‘Future Bathroom’, What to make? Or How to Make? Challenges in meeting sustainable needs.

CHAMBERLAIN, Paul, REED, Heath, BURTON, Maria and MOUNTAIN, Gail (2011). ‘Future Bathroom’, What to make? Or How to Make? Challenges in meeting sustainable needs. In: BARTOLO, H., (ed.) Sustainable Intelligent manufacturing. Portugal, IST Press, 777-784.

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Abstract

This paper is a case study that describes a design research programme, ‘the future bathroom’, undertaken by the authors which illuminates both challenges and solutions for inclusive and sustainable design. A co-design research methodology was adopted and engaged older users and community lay researchers to help overcome the barriers of developing a comprehensive understanding of the issues related to highly personal, private and intimate activities. We adopt the term co-design to describe an approach to design that encourages both user involvement and interdisciplinary design. Our challenge has been to provide an environment where an exchange of ideas between stakeholders could take place and to foster what Manzini (1) has referred to as a ‘creative community’. From the project emerged both insight and understanding of age related disability and bathroom use and potential design solutions to support these needs. Adopting an inclusive approach to design research we have developed flexible, durable and sustainable solutions that meet the diverse and changing needs of bathroom usage The paper discusses how sustainability in the context of inclusive design might need to consider more ‘what we should make’ rather than ‘how we should make’.

Item Type:	Book Section
Additional Information:	1st International Conference on Sustainable Intelligent Manufacturing, held at Leiria, Portugal, 28 July-1 July 2011.
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018:	Cultural Communication and Computing Research Institute > Art and Design Research Centre
Page Range:	777-784
Depositing User:	Paul Chamberlain
Date Deposited:	20 Sep 2012 10:51
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2021 06:16
URI:	https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/4632

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