Let’s face it–so many basic items lack ideal ergonomic optimization. It’s also disheartening to think that countless poorly designed products are mass produced each year. However, quite a few designers have thought of ways to improve some items and have shared their ideas on the Internet. Team Design Group found four great examples of ergonomically optimized products by designers on Behance, and we’re going to take a good look at what they’re doing right.
Image by Danny Lin via Behance
Stretchers can unintentionally cause patients secondary injuries for a variety of reasons, including stiff, unbalanced surfaces and disrupting the patient’s position too much while transporting them. LENIFY’s shape and build allows it to “scoop up” different parts of the human body in order to reduce the risk of injuring a patient further. The sketches and models of LENIFY make it apparent that Lin really knows his human factors and how his product should respond to the human form.
Image by LUNAR via Behance
2. Belle-V Ice Cream Scoop by LUNAR
Tired of seeing a product from the middle ages go for so long without proper ergonomic optimization, LUNAR decided to make an ice cream scoop that doesn’t kill your wrists. The Belle-V Ice Cream Scoop’s design works with the natural rotational movements of the human wrist, providing leverage that can plow through even the hardest of ice creams. Considering the number of people with carpal tunnel syndrome, we’re glad LUNAR is going an extra mile to spare countless wrists from giving out.
Image by Cory Karges via Behance
3. Edge Snow Removal by Cory Karges
No category of tools gets a bad rep for poor ergonomics like snow and ice removal tools. Karges recognized the flaws that often make snow brushes and ice scrapers a pain to use, and he factored many of them into Edge’s design. The device features a telescoping shaft and a brush that rotates 90 degrees, which provides users with greater reach and power. Its foam-covered handles also are easy on your hands.
Image by Berie Suquet via Behance
4. Lil’ plate, Lil’ bowl & Lil’ cup by Berie Suquet
Won’t someone please think of the children?! Thankfully, Berie Suquet did. Ergonomically optimized for a baby’s hands, the Lil’ Utensils collection was designed to prevent food from spilling, help push food, and stack easily. Suquet believes that utensils with proper human factors could help babies achieve independence early on, and we like her thinking!
These are just a handful of examples of how people think outside of the box to make day-to-day products more user-friendly. Still, we should be thankful that these wonderful folks are working hard to make our lives easier!
Do you know of anyone else on Behance who’s working to ergonomically improve everyday products? Let us know in the comments below, or tweet us @TeamDesignGroup!
