Chapter 4, Problem 1.2ASC

Designing the Everyday

Michael Graves, probably best known for his singing teakettle sold at Target, was the first architect to have his own consumer brand of home products. His more than 800 product designs for Target helped the company differentiate itself from other big box stores and introduced the value of design to the American public. He also designed the scaffolding to protect the National Monument during major restorations, the Denver public library, walking sticks for Kimberley Clark, and more. Many years and design projects later, Graves fell ill and, wheelchair bound, turned his attention to “patient-centered health care design.”

When you think about it, the traditional wheelchair has a horrendous design. It is uncomfortable, difficult to get in and out of, hard to push and maneuver, and most egregiously, patients actually put their hands on the wheels that have been picking up debris and germs from the hospital floors to self-propel themselves. As seen in the photo, Graves’ design, produced by Stryker, has a more comfortable and cleanable molded seat with multi-formed armrests to aid entering and exiting the chair, smaller solid wheels located in the back out of reach of the patient, elevated handles and foot-operated brakes to alleviate back strain for the care provider, and a smaller footprint so multiple chairs can be stacked until needed. Attachments are not removable so they cannot be lost and are less likely to break. From the wheelchairs, Graves went on to design hospital beds and rooms, rehab centers, housing for wounded soldiers, elderly care facilities and ergonomically useful healthcare products. Although Graves passed away in 2015, the design firm that bears his name continues to win awards for patient-centered and customer-centric design.

Identify the different “customers” the new wheelchair design considered. How did Graves incorporate the process of using a wheelchair in his design?