Ergonomic Factors for a Designer to Consider

Understanding Ergonomics

Ergonomics is the study of how people interact with products, systems, and environments, with an aim to improve efficiency, comfort, and safety.
A critical part of product development, ergonomics encompasses physical, cognitive, and organisational aspects.
The application of ergonomics can significantly enhance usability, functionality, and user experience of a product.

Physical Ergonomics

Physical ergonomics focuses on the human body’s interactions with physical products, concerning dimensions, weight, and force requirements.
Designers must consider anthropometric data – measurements of the human body – to enable the greatest level of comfort and ease-of-use for the diverse user population.
Design factors such as shape, size, comfort, and user effort must provide a proper fit between the product and its user’s physiological characteristics.

Cognitive Ergonomics

Cognitive ergonomics involves user’s mental interaction with a product, concentrating on aspects like perception, memory, attention, and decision-making.
Products should be designed to minimise cognitive load — the amount of information a user must process.
Display interfaces should be simple and intuitive, with clear instructions, to ensure easy understanding and use.

Organisational Ergonomics

Organisational ergonomics is concerned with how the product fits into broader systems and structures, like organisational structure, policies, and processes.
Considering organisational ergonomics ensures that the product effectively meets the operational and business objectives of the organisation it serves.
Understanding the work processes and environment aids the product in improving users’ productivity and reducing frustrations.

The Importance of User Feedback

Prototyping and testing with real users are essential stages for gauging the ergonomics of a product.
Feedback from users helps identify design flaws and potential improvements related to usability, comfort, and accessibility.
User feedback and research can lead to design refinements that significantly enhance the overall ergonomics of the product.