Designing for Safety
Education
Study Project
Enhancing Fab Lab Efficiency: From User Challenges to Smart Solutions
As a Product Designer, I recognized that Fab Labs present both opportunities and challenges for users and supervisors. One major issue was ensuring users completed their annual safety instructions, which they had to track themselves. Additionally, machines often malfunctioned, leading to errors or damage, and there was no centralized system for managing maintenance or machine usage. To address these challenges, I set out to design a new solution. Before moving into development, I focused on understanding the actual needs of the users. Through user research and interviews, I gained valuable insights into the specific pain points faced by both Fab Lab supervisors and users, such as difficulties with machine maintenance, safety management, and communication. With these findings, I began designing a solution to automate key processes, enhance machine tracking, and improve user safety. The initial concept was tested using a clickable Lo-Fi prototype in Figma, which allowed me to iterate based on real user feedback.
1. Empathise: understand the user's challenges. 2. Define: identify the core problems. 3. Ideate: brainstorm solutions. 4. Prototype: build and test early models. 5. Test: refine the design based on user feedback. This method ensures the final solution is practical and tailored to the users' needs. These interviews helped me understand the distinct challenges faced by both groups: supervisors needed better tools for machine management and task prioritization, while users required transparency and support in using machines and ensuring their safety compliance.
1. Empathize – Understanding User Needs To understand the challenges in the Fab Lab, I conducted two interviews—one with supervisors, the other with users. These provided key insights into daily workflows and pain points. Key Insights: Supervisors: Struggled to balance personal projects with user support. Needed tools for managing machine maintenance and safety instructions. Suggested solutions like automated scheduling and a ticketing system. Users: Unclear on when safety briefings were due. Frustrated by unresolved technical issues, especially failed 3D prints. Wanted more guidance and transparency. These interviews highlighted two main needs: Supervisors need better tools for machine and task management. Users need support systems and safety compliance clarity. 2. Define – Pinpointing Core Problems For Supervisors: No automation for maintenance and safety tracking. Difficulty prioritizing tasks and monitoring machines. For Users: Uncertainty around safety briefing schedules. Lack of support for troubleshooting and machine availability. These issues informed the direction of the design solution. 3. Ideate – Generating Solutions Based on the findings, I developed targeted solution concepts: Supervisor Tools: Real-time machine status and maintenance tracking. Ticketing system for user requests and technical issues. Automated reminders for safety briefings and servicing. User Tools: Dashboard with project tracking, machine status, and safety briefing schedule. Support section with help requests, FAQs, and tutorials. These ideas were turned into prototypes for further testing and feedback.
5. Test & Iterate – Refining the Design through User Feedback After developing the prototypes, I conducted user testing with both Fab Lab supervisors and users. The feedback revealed key areas for improvement: Improved Navigation: Users had difficulty locating safety briefings. "I had trouble finding the safety briefings." → Resulted in clearer navigation and better information placement. Supervisor-Focused Machine View: Supervisors emphasized the need for immediate machine access. "The machine information should be front and center." → Led to a machine-centric layout for the supervisor interface. Enhanced Help Access for Users: Users found the help feature hard to locate. "It took me a while to figure out how to request help." → Help section was made more visible and accessible. These insights guided design refinements, resulting in a more intuitive and user-friendly interface.
By following the Design Thinking process and developing two targeted prototypes, I was able to create a solution that addresses the unique challenges faced by both supervisors and users in the Fab Lab. The result is a more efficient, user-friendly system that enhances machine management for supervisors and provides greater transparency and support for users.