Gardening is an important leisure pursuit for the ever-growing numbers of older people but many of the garden power tools currently available present difficulties for older users with the reduced grip, strength and eyesight that characterise the ageing process. A previous Helen Hamlyn Research Associate project with B&Q led by Research Associate Matthew White resulted in the development of an orbital sander and palm-sized screwdriver. Building on its success, Brown concentrated on existing garden power tools in the B&Q range and evaluated their performance with a group of older gardeners in Somerset.
The ergonomic and cognitive problems highlighted by this user research work were addressed by a series of new concepts. Two key product innovations were selected for further development - an extended pressure washer lance to extend reach and improve posture, and a rake attachment for a garden vacuum. The project also generated inclusive design guidelines to help influence product development and purchasing across B&Q’s parent Kingfisher group. This case study demonstrates how addressing the needs of older users can influence the design of familiar garden power tools and generate improvements that are beneficial across the board.
Download full report (848KB PDF file)
Garden power tools, older gardeners, inclusive design guidelines
