A Study of Observation Combined by ‘Enthnography’ and ‘Social Model of Design’ for Developing Universal Design Products(I)

The research of universal design emphasize on the development of product and the application of principles. However, if only dependents on the principle or the observation sensitivity of the designers, sometimes it may fail to fit the needs of users to reach the “universal” of product use. We think that it needs to address a design observation method which is deeper and comprehensive to understand the needs of the users group, and let the product designed by the designer to contain more human nature. In the third year of study, be dead against the ethnography study and social model of design proposed by Victor Margolin and Sylvia Margolin (2002),get these advantages and mixed to propose the new design observation. The first year execute the ethnography study and use the inside view to understand the needs of the group deeply. The second year use social model of design to understanding of the user groups extensively. The third year mixed the two methods; modify both depth and breadth as the design of observation, so as to facilitate the development of universal design products. In the third year research, we continue the National Science Council first year research achievement report” Using ethnography and the social model of design in the universal design”. According to the data of the ethnographic method field observation, we sum up and propose the seven issues in three categories which related to elderly users as follows: 1. Health Care and Treatment: (1) health care, (2) control and understanding of health, (3) the use of drugs 2. Education and Entertainment: (4) education and learning, (5) entertainment 3. Life and Action Independence: (6) movement and space, (7) life independence In the third year research－"the hybrid model integrating ethnography and social model of design", desiring to aim "health facilitation" as the spindle and proceeding relevant research. To integrate through cross-functional areas team discussing in the hybrid model in the third year, drawing up the developing spindle about "recreation equipments" under "health facilitation". This research developing spindle, in addition to more appropriating the concept of fit in with 8-80 years old brought up from universal design, it covers wide-ranging user groups (e.g., aged people, adults, children, teenagers). The recreation equipments of universality and interaction are unique consideration. The use of recreation equipments is also appropriating the spirit in universal design, the directions of "multiple use" and "common use". Moreover, the first year plan－"applying ethnography and social model of design to universal design" proposed seven issues in three categories recreation equipments appropriating Health care issue in Health Care and Treatment category and Education and Learning issue and Entertainment issue in Education and Entertainment category, fully including to three categories. Therefore, in future research, to plan a trip through a health promotion research and development design, the third year of research into the development plan as a research topic spindle.