Good vibrations: Do electrical therapeutic massagers work?

Health, leisure and beauty activities are increasing in popularity, with a particular emphasis on self-help and alternative health practices. One product type that has increased sales with this expansion is the hand-held electric massager. These are products that use vibration as a means of alleviating muscular strains and pains, as well as promoting relaxation. Paradoxically, these products are extremely popular as gifts, but are soon discarded. A multi-disciplinary research team was commissioned by a British manufacturer of electrical consumer products to investigate user attitudes and perceptions of existing massagers, to identify areas of user dissatisfaction. The manufacturer was also concerned about a possible stigma attached to these products because of an association with sex aids. This paper provides an account of the perceptions of both consumers and therapists regarding the use of these products. Identifying the differences between the perceptions of consumers and therapists should help provide a basis for effective integration of user needs, manufacturer requirements, designers’ skills and sound therapeutic practice. The results provide insight to support the development of more effective hand-held massagers

The nature and limitations of user models in the household product design

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX176497 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Designing with information and empathy: Delivering human information to designers

This paper detailed research by McGinley into information and empathy resources to support people-centred design. It was published in a special edition of The Design Journal, an INT1-rated journal in the European Reference Index for the Humanities. The paper reported on the concept of information and empathy combinations and detailed a case study in which the author undertook the role of lead researcher. The reported case study was the design of safer drinks vessels for the UK pub industry, a project commissioned by the Home Office and managed by the Design Council. The case study reported on the process undertaken to explore glass-related assaults. Human information resources (i.e. mixed-media outputs, including reports, video and interactive software) were created to communicate the range of perspectives and insights obtained through design ethnography methods. The research was used by a design consultancy commissioned to re-design the pint glass, leading to a new concept that was developed and trialled in UK bars. McGinley and Caroline Till also wrote an accompanying publication that consolidated findings based on four months of research into alcohol-related violence. Design Out Crime: Using Design to Reduce Injuries from Alcohol-Related Violence in Pubs and Clubs (2010) was published by the Design Council and launched alongside resulting designs by the Home Secretary at the Design Council. The project received national media coverage and featured extensively in the national press (e.g. BBC News, Guardian, Metro, Daily Mail, Creative Review) Further to this work, McGinley was invited to become a ‘design ambassador’ for the Design Council’s ‘Keeping Connected’ Design Challenge (2011), which engaged high-school students with older communities. McGinley was also invited to present his work at Central Saint Martins Service Design Summer School (2012)