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User Centred Design Project

Quattray was an ergonomic drinks’ tray designed for a user with Parkinson’s Disease. The product incorporated features that reduced the risk of transporting drinks in an elegant solution that made it a desirable product for any person looking for a more comfortable and attractive alternative to conventional trays.

The Challenge

As part of the User Centred Design module taught at the University of Bath, and in collaboration with the design consultancy Designability, the challenge was to create a product that would help a disabled user improve his experience in and around the kitchen.

The User

Andrew, 62, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease 6 years previously. His main symptoms were reduced hand dexterity, balance and leg mobility. 

The Process

Thanks to a series of interviews with Andrew, and following a user-centred design approach, a drinks’ tray was designed to help with the transport of liquids, especially hot ones. Multiple low fidelity prototypes were created and presented to Andrew, who provided feedback that was used to guide the design of the final product. By following a design-with-purpose philosophy, the tray included a series of features that made it a safer and more comfortable alternative to existing trays in the market.

The Result

Quattray was the result of four weeks of intense work put into developing an elegant solution for the transport of hot drinks. The final product was presented to Andrew, who really believed the tray solved his difficulties to transport liquids. The product included various features that made the transport of liquids easier and safer for Andrew and other users with hand dexterity problems.

User Journey

Design Language

The idea behind the design language of the product was that the tray had to be a desirable product that blended in with other kitchen utensils and didn't highlight the disability of the user.