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Design Against Stress: Design's methodological approach of dealing with the issue of stress

Dasgupta, Mitul

Abstract Details

2010, MDES, University of Cincinnati, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Design.

Statistically stress is a major health issue in North America. It ought to be considered not only as a medical issue but also social. The need is to have the ability to reduce stress in any way possible or try not to induce it further, at least in this consumerist society. This thesis discusses what could be design's role in handling this issue. The approach incorporated is that of stress checking. It talks about trying to make products and services less stress inducing by considering stress as an important factor. Mostly any New Product Development (NPD) process includes basic design research, conceptualization, ideation and base level consumer testing before it is ready for mass production and market retail. However in this process flow, the concern about checking for un-thoughtful stress inducers is not there. There isn't much at present that ensures reduction or elimination of stress. Now the psychological (mental state and emotional responses) and physiological (physical changes/discomfort levels) stresses are the two aspects that could be a consideration for the design of less stress inducing products.

In this thesis, some existing stress measuring tools are analyzed to check out the viability of their usage in the design process and the adaptability in industry/real life setting. Consequently the comparative deductions lead to choosing of psychological aspect of stress. This is seen as the potential direction for furthering this research due to factors of industry validation, return of investment and a more holistic approach. The need to incorporate the added step of stress checking to quantifiably reduce induced stress is identified, illustrated and necessary arguments are provided. The plausible potential answer is suggested through concept of a methodology / mechanism or tool “ The Stress Check Mechanism (SCM). Depending on the kind of the product to be tested, this mechanism should be able to assess the potential problem in that product with the help of product related questions, feedback and task analysis, a standard stress state questionnaire (Dundee stress state questionnaire) etc. It can try to fit in any part of the NPD process, benchmarking, or upgrading process in the industry. Consequently if and when researched and developed further it can prove beneficial in giving options that the industry could potentially use.

Craig Vogel, MID (Committee Chair)
Phyllis Borcherding, MS (Committee Member)
Sean Sauber, MBA (Committee Member)
91 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Dasgupta, M. (2010). Design Against Stress: Design's methodological approach of dealing with the issue of stress [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1282317515

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Dasgupta, Mitul. Design Against Stress: Design's methodological approach of dealing with the issue of stress. 2010. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1282317515.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Dasgupta, Mitul. "Design Against Stress: Design's methodological approach of dealing with the issue of stress." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1282317515

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)