OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH PROGRAM

General Objective 

The long-term objective of the HighChest project is to create a new generation of household appliances in terms of environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, eco-efficient behavior and product design, in order to sustain the competition with companies that have as strength element the localisation in areas at low cost labor. The technological innovation of the product, was investigated through new logics of the process, and the strengthening and specialisation of the local supply chain.

The contribution of the Ergonomics & Design Laboratory (LED)

The laboratory contributed for:
- improving product ergonomics;
- increasing safety of use - also looking for different types of users;
- the interface simplification and evolution also in relation of the ability of self-management / regulation of the product and its functions;
- product design and style innovation;
- implementation of other devices in the product;
- designing of spaces preservation for specific foods;
- increasing levels of adaptability to different contexts of use.

Proposals descend from the analysis of eco-efficient behaviors and general product usability analysis through the application of:
-safety and usability evaluation methods, based on the study of needs and on different physical and perceptive user profiles (anthropometric assessments, posture and movement capabilities);
- evaluation methods of the product use typical of the User-centred design process, through usability expert assessment and techniques based on the direct involvement of users (direct observation, interviews, ethnographic surveys, tests with users)
- evaluation models assessing the perceived aesthetic quality in favor of aesthetic aspects.