Micro Bathroom
As a Human Factors Engineering Intern at Kohler, I led a project aimed at understanding peoples' experiences in small bathrooms (less than 30 sq. ft.). The objective was to improve improve the form of compact bathroom fixtures and explore ways to enable people to have more control over their limited bathroom space.
Final Micro Bathroom Process Report
“The tiny home dream for us is about responsibility, including our responsibility to the environment, to ourselves, and to the people around us. This way of living is centered around living with less, so we can live more"
- Interviewed participant
Generative Research
Literature Reviews | Contextual Inquiry | Interviews
5 participants, Homes: RV, studio apartment, prefabricated home
I initially collected literature on population density and reviewed contemporary trends in fixture design and residential architecture as foundational research for the project.
Key finding: The number of studios within large cities around the world are projected to increase, while the size of units are projected to decrease.
To understand the lived experience of "tiny" homes, screened and recruited 5 individuals living in homes with bathrooms less than 30 sq. ft. to interview. I interviewed a retired couple traveling the US in an RV, a young professional living in a micro studio in Seattle, and a couple living in a "tiny" prefabricated home in Arizona. In each interview, participants introduced me to their bathroom space, and spoke about their daily routines and motivations for living in a "small" home, and greatest challenges and pain-points.
Participant Profile page from Micro Bathroom Process Report
Analysis
I developed insights regarding user needs in small bathrooms by clustering user quotes and observations. The findings showed that the current form of compact fixtures in small bathrooms (<50 sq ft.) do not suit all the bathroom habits and needs of people. This suggests reevaluating the form of bathroom fixtures to accommodate different routines and exploring ways to enable people to have more control over their limited space.
Affinity diagramming qualitative data
Ideation
With the help of an Industrial Designer and Mechanical Engineer, we went through multiple rounds of ideation to balance design ideas with engineering feasibility. Various mechanisms of movement were explored to allow for an adaptable sink and 3 were chosen based on feasibility.
Folding Sink Concept Sketches
Prototype
In collaboration with a Mechanical Engineer, we developed 3 low-fidelity sink prototypes intended for bathroom spaces less than 30 sq. ft. Each of the 3 concepts allows the user to move the sink basin out of the way to complete other tasks.
Folding Sink Prototypes - "Folding" sink on left, "Angular" sink in middle, "Drawer" sink on right
Evaluative Research
Proof of Concept | Usability Evaluation
13 participants
Using foam core, I developed a 20 sq. ft. micro bathroom mock-up that contained a showering space, toilet, shelf and sink prototype on a modular wall. The modular wall was intended to interchange prototypes during user testing.
I screened 13 participants based on the profile of micro studio residents, using criteria defined by Urban Land Institute Housing Council. During the testing session, I observed participants complete their morning routine with all 3 prototypes while thinking out-loud. At the beginning and conclusion of testing, participants filled out a brief questionnaire where they rated the comfort and efficiency of the space and were asked to reorientate and space and sketch improvements.
Bathroom mock-up scaling
20 sq. ft. Bathroom Mockup
Outcome
I documented the research process, findings and insights from each stage of research in a process book. The process book also identifies design opportunity for Kohler and future research directions for small bathrooms. I presented this research to the Kohler Design department and handed off this research to a Industrial Designer who was in the process of re-designing compact fixtures.
Image courtesy of Modera lofts