Rethinking the Bookshelf for Senior Citizens: A Physical Product Design Exercise

Come up with a bookshelf meant for older people to use. Explain exactly who you are designing for, which problems the design solves, and which concept you would recommend. ```hint Elderly is not one user Older adults differ widely in mobility, eyesight, grip and living situation. Pick the group for whom an ordinary bookshelf fails most clearly, then follow every interaction they have with it, from finding a book to putting it back. ``` ### Clarifying Questions - Where will the bookshelf be used: in a private home, in a senior living community, or in a shared space such as a library? - Should I focus on a particular group, for example people using walkers or wheelchairs, people with low vision, or people with arthritis? - Is this a consumer product for sale, and is there a price range or manufacturing constraint to respect? - Is the scope plain furniture, or can the design include motors, lighting or a connected app? ### What a Strong Answer Covers - A deliberate choice of setting and user group, justified by how severe and common their problems are - Pain points traced across the whole interaction with the shelf and grounded in specific changes that come with age, such as reach, balance, grip and vision - Several distinct design concepts compared on user impact, safety, cost and ease of manufacture - A recommended design with concrete features, and a plan to test it with older users before manufacturing - Success metrics and risks, especially physical safety: tipping, falls and pinched fingers ### Follow-up Questions - Older adults often do not buy furniture themselves. How does that change your design and how you sell it? - Your recommended design costs much more to make than an ordinary bookshelf. How would you bring the cost down without losing what makes it work? - How would the design change for a shared bookshelf in a senior living community?