This two-year design research project was carried out with industry partner Osaka Gas, who distribute 24 per cent of Japan’s natural gas requirements to over 6.5 million households in the Kansai region. The objective of study was to improve the design of the ‘konro’ - the standard Japanese three-hob gas cooker with an internal fish grill, with particular emphasis on the needs of Japan’s rapidly ageing population In Japan, induction heating (IH) continues to gain a significant share of the cooking appliance market, yet it lacks much of the immediacy and satisfying sensory feedback offered by the konro.
IH also invariably necessitates the purchase of additional special purpose cooking utensils. McGinley, the Research Associate who collaborated with Osaka on this study, conducted user research in both Japan and with expatriate japanese housewives living in the UK. As a result, he was able to identify and overcome significant shortcomings inherent in even the best example of existing konros. This case study demonstrates how, the incremental introduction of numerous programmable features into products particularly in Japan and the Far East, has resulted in ‘function avalanche’ but no fundamental redesign of the standard footprint.
This continues to create difficulties for growing numbers of older people with reduced dexterity, visual acuity and cognitive ability. Through the introduction and adoption of inclusive design principles and processes, coupled with innovative and intuitive design, a new market-ready and competitive footprint for this key kitchen appliance has been developed.
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Ageing populations, cooking appliances, interface design, fish grill
