Use of Design Research Methods in the Transformation of Furniture in Care Homes

VI. International Furniture Congress, 2 - 05 Kasım 2020, ss.109, (Özet Bildiri)

Increasing share of vulnerable people in population has moved healthcare services beyond caregiving into nursing

homes as well as other everyday environments by means of mobile technologies such as telemedicine and

monitoring applications. Considering specialized health conditions require adjustments and customization for each

individual’s needs, mobile technologies can cope with this mass customization, while it is unfortunate that

available furniture products which also claim to be specialized in medical purposes are not well suited to everyday

environments and user needs in terms of both form and function. It is fair to say that most of these products are

downgraded from hospital equipment into non-professional medical products. In this paper, possible design

research methods which can be employed in the need elicitation and development phase of these medical furniture

are explored. In addition, some suggestions as approaches that can be adopted during field studies are explained

regarding their research aims, limitations and expected outcomes.