Chris McGinley / RCA Industrial Design Engineering
inclusive konro: improving kitchen stoves in Japan
The first year of a two-year project to design a new generation of gas stoves that includes the needs of Japan’s rapidly ageing population. The Japanese konro (a gas cooker typically consisting of three hobs and a small fish grill) has undergone technological development, but has not progressed sufficiently to match the needs of Japan’s growing numbers of older people, many with reduced dexterity and visual acuity. Designing to allow older people to cook safely and without difficulties means better design for everyone, regardless of age.
At the outset of the project, a cultural comparison between European and Japanese cooking styles led to an audit of existing konro designs. User research was conducted with seven Japanese households to provide insights into the difficulties facing people on a daily basis. A number of problem areas were identified, including the handling of components, the complexity of the controls, safe and effective cleaning and ‘difficult to use’ grills.
The project concentrated on redesigning the grill as a key feature of the konro. Fish is central to the Japanese diet so the grill is in daily use. The grill design addresses key issues of access, visibility, safety and ease of handling. These were highlighted as important by a second user group of expatriate Japanese housewives living in the UK. The second year will concentrate on the rest of the konro to create a concept that could become a unique and powerful competitor to existing designs. It will redesign the konro as a complete and cohesive unit, attuned to the reality of the Japanese market and inclusive of the needs of older people.
more on the second year of the project
