ergonomics

Design Discussions general design discussion
1

I am a student and I want to find out some information about ergonomic measurements as I am designing a chair to try and learn more about the importance of ergonomics. I cannot find anywhere that gives specific measurements which is what I am looking for. Am I not looking for the right thing?

Does anybody know anywhere that tells you average measurements and other such information, or just any advice in general would be helpful.

Thanks.

2

did any of your instructors recomend this book?

http://www.amazon.com/Measure-Man-Woman-Factors-Design/dp/0471099554/ref=sr_1_1/102-1045776-7881749?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186328757&sr=1-1

Also, I think a bench marking exercise might help you out quiet a bit. You can do a quick investigation of chairs, take photos of each chair you test, and annotate key measurements. This should give you an idea of the type of measurements you will want. Remember, you’ll never make it all things to all people, all the time. Focus the measurements based on the inteded use of the piece.

It’s not super scientific, but it will be quick and give you info you can quickly use. Once you have the design loosely in place, I’d also recomend making a mock up out of scrap wood full scale, just to sit in and test the dimensions you are using. Whith this you can quickly fine tune angles and key elements like seat depth befor you finalize the design.

3

Thanks for the help.

I haven’t really got any information from teachers as I’m doing this in my own time at home. I’m not planning on making the chair I just wanted to get an idea of what it would take to design one as my projects so far have had very little to do with ergonomics.

I may try and buy that book if possible, it looks very good. I’ve done a little bit of research based on a few chairs around my house and around my measurements and got a general shape to work with but I was just looking to be more accurate.

Thanks again.

4

“Anthropometry” is the keyword you’re looking for. This was our textbook: Human Dimension and Interior Space: A Source Book of Design Reference Standards

5

is there no information on the web about it?

i am willing to buy a book with the information in but i’d prefer if it was free!

6

So you want someone that has purchased such a book to look up the information for you, and then transcribe it into a post for you? And then with your next project, on hand dials, or door knobs, or monkey wrenches… you’ll want different info from the same book transcribed for free as well?

i’d prefer it if my lunch were free… but there aint no such thing. Buy a couple of books, they will be a good reference for future projects and you can flip through them on rainy days. Knowledge is the best investment…

7

umm i didn’t quite mean that but i get your point…

i realise having the books would be handy i just wanted to know if that kind of information was already on the internet. didn’t want to waste money on stuff that i could get free.

thanks for the books you have shown me i’m going to order some as soon as i can.

8

I figured you didn’t quite mean it that way, I was just attempting to make a case that the information is valuable. Somebody put time and money into doing the research to get that data, and that has value.

That I know of, there are no online databases of such info. That would be a good quick reference though.

9

Not on the web to my knowledge…

How about your school library?
Or Follets books store as a secondhand textbook?

10

Hi guys

I thought of giving you a hint in the general direction of ergonomics

http://msis.jsc.nasa.gov/Volume1.htm

Good stuff for a lot of things! :slight_smile:

When it comes to furniture you can use the IKEA catalogue for general dimension. They are in general quite good for an average population.

Cheers

Mats

11

Check with your library. Any design school should have a copy of the Dreyfuss book, as posted by Yo. If they don’t have it, ask your librarian about inter-library loan. In my experience, it only takes 2-3 days and you will have the book for free (or cheap) in your hot little hands.

12

good start

13

thanks for all the help.

i have bought the dreyfuss book off amazon because i had some virtual money lying around that i hadn’t done anything with. it is very useful and has helped a lot already.

thanks yo and everyone else :smiley:

14

Not sure what you are looking for but I have used both of these CDC chart before on general population Governement projects. There are more on: www.kidshealth.org and the age goes up to 20. The sample group is larger than most and the data is recent. It is specific to the US though.

I also suggest that you keep in mind that comfort is a perception and in my experience it can not be predictably achieved by connecting data points alone.