Week 7: Identifying Bad Designs

A : Bathroom Taps


This photo shows a poorly designed bathroom sink.  The problem arises from the faucet being set too far from the basin’s edge.  Thus, people have a tendency to bump their hands against the edge of the basin when washing.  The easy solution is to either move the faucet closer to the edge of the basin or increase the circumferance of the basin so its edge is closer to the faucet.
Source: http://www.thehumanfactorblog.com/2009/01/23/examples-of-poor-design-from-the-built-environment/

B: Can Openers

 Can openers are usually designed for right-handed people like this one (above-picture taken by me). Therefore, most left-handers will have to either use the can opener backwards or order a special one suited to them (left- http://www.nalhp.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/kitchen.PNG). A solution to this common problem is to design a can opener that is reversible, to be suited to both right and left-handed people (below-picture taken by me).