Abstract
Design education in India has seen remarkable growth in recent years, with design departments being established in technology and architecture institutions (like IITs, SPAs, etc.) as well as dedicated design institutions (like NIDs, NIFTs, WUD, etc.). The purchase of furniture for design classrooms often occurs with minimal or no consultation from design students, the primary users. This study addresses this gap by examining the needs and goals regarding classroom chairs. An online study was conducted with design students from undergraduate and postgraduate programs in India. The survey utilized the sentence completion projective technique to uncover underlying thoughts and feelings regarding classroom chair needs and goals. The responses were subjected to thematic analysis and sentiment analysis. 203 design students participated in the online study. The analysis of chair needs revealed three themes: i) Comfort and Ergonomics, ii) Health and Posture Support, iii) Functionality, Aesthetics, and Sustainability. The goals resulted in four themes- i) Enhanced Productivity and Focus, ii) Health and Wellness, iii) Creative Outcomes, and iv) Collaborative and Prolonged use. Most student responses were predominantly neutral (70%), followed by positive sentiments (30%). Based on the recurring patterns observed, student personas can be categorized as follows: Comfort Seekers (40%), Health-Conscious (35%), and Task-Oriented (25%). The study’s findings indicate key intervention areas concerning classroom chairs for design students. It emphasizes the need for better-designed seating solutions and points to the vital role that design institutions, furniture designers, and manufacturers play in addressing these specific needs.
Presenters
Sonal AtreyaAssistant Professor, Design, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Uttaranchal, India Abhishek Srivastava
Student, PhD, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Uttaranchal, India
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Classroom chair, Design classroom, Design students, Seating, Thematic analysis
