The Integration of Human Factors and Industrial Design for Consumer Products

Abstract

The successful integration of Human Factors and Industrial Design will produce an aesthetically pleasing and functionally superior product. A case study in the design of a new manual toothbrush is used to illustrate techniques and studies developed over 4 years to produce a consumer product along rational human factors lines in conjunction with innovative industrial design. The primary functional requirement was that the final product be significantly better in plaque removal than other leading manual toothbrushes with adequate data to support advertising claims as well as eliciting strong consumer appeal.