Research On Tableware Design Guided By Seniors' Sensory Characteristics

With the rapid development of the economy comes a growing aging population,imposing a new challenge to the stable functioning of the society in the long run.China,with a population of 1.3 billion,faces even graver challenges in supporting its senior citizens.As a result,the physical and mental health of senior citizens has become a central issue for the whole society.However,as most people live a faster life than ever,China's younger generation do not have enough time preserved for their aging parents/grandparents at home.Therefore,senior citizens living alone have become more and more commom.As people grow old,their senses,such as sight,touch,and taste,degenerate,and their psychological needs are often ignored by their children.Therefore,aging citizens need caring from beyond their houses even more.However,product design for the aging population in China is still in the beginning phase,and mostly concentrated in medical care.Since products for daily purposes designed specifically for the elderly are few,the needs for senior citizens to improve their quality of life are mostly unsatisfied,indicating a niche market with great potentials.Based on senior citizens' sense features,the research seeks to design tableware sets for the aging group,with their ways of eating,the usability of tableware sets,the shape,color,material of the sets,and ergonomics taken into considerations.Analyses are made regarding the specific problems arising in designing such products.The ultimate product design shall both satisfy senior citizens' needs in senses such as sight,touch and taste,and raise their quality of eating when their children are not able to be around constantly.