Download Stakeholder Interview Template Date 4/3/2013 Project # R13002

Stakeholder Interview Template
Date
4/3/2013
Start Time
12:00 PM
End Time
12:30 PM
Project #
Customer Name
R13002 – Una Crutch
Dan Harel
Location Building 7A Fourth Floor
Team Members
Ryan Muckel
Joanna Dzionara-Norsen
Kyra Wilson-Houck
Was a follow-up with the customer completed? (circle one) YES
NO
If so,
Date: _____________ Time: ________________
Member who clarified the information:
How was it clarified: by phone_____ email_____ in-person_____ other_____________
Signature: ___________________________
Summary: (summarize key findings from the interview in this space; please make sure to review with
your team and the customer/stakeholder)
Interview Transcript:
Dan: Budget in the time frame of senior design? There is only so much this shop can provide.
A: School provides budget.
Dan: The business side of this project is going to need to be addressed eventually (predictions, markets,
etc.)
A: Senior design doesn’t usually have a business student involved, but it is not unheard of. The design
team does do benchmarking against existing projects.
Q: Do you typically try to push Industrial Design projects past their initial scope? Would you prefer they
go to Senior Design, an Independent Study or something else?
A: It is not typical actually. Some projects have a potential for future development. I’ll push a student to
take a project further if I sense there is a potential market for it. If the student doesn’t pursue it, it’s not a
big deal; I just think it’s a missed opportunity. I think [the ID students] can learn something from social
sciences, or business when it is necessary. There is definitely a benefit to working in teams with
engineering students. This is how we develop products in the world—it’s a huge advantage to learn this in
school. I think this project has the potential to become a commercialized product.
Q: Why did you specifically want to push this project beyond Kyra’s initial design?
A: It was her initiative to push it further and I supported that. If she can do this while in school, why not?
Q: What do you dislike about the current crutches model? (Normal crutches)
A: It’s crude, not a fine product. A lot of elements are neglected. The reason that it’s not developed
further is because they want to keep it inexpensive and it needs to be an object that’s used constantly
(wear and tear). It hasn’t been revisited by a designer since its inception; it’s time to do that. People are
getting older and this is a project for the elderly and disabled. We need volume to reduce cost. We want it
to be better for everybody (ergonomic, materials). Reengineer pieces and how they work together. Why
make two pieces instead of one? That cuts the cost in half right there.
Q: What do you like about the current prototype?
A: It was a good level for the class [she design it in], but that was only enough to see the value in pushing
further. The current model is wonderful for what it was, but I can see it being much better. Experiment
with forms and shapes, and materials. Complex forms and shapes as determined by ergonomics, that
needs to be addressed further. Trial and error with real users.
Q: How do you think it can be made better?
A: More work with how pieces integrate. Maybe make the right and left out of more than one piece.
Experiment. Engineering side needs to address feasibility. Can it carry the weight of an object? The ssue
of materials needs to be addressed as well. Mainly feasibility, ergonomics, usability, and use of testing.
Q: Follow up if he doesn’t mention ergonomics: Kyra said that there was still a lot of work to be done
concerning the ergonomics of the design. What do you specifically think needs to be done?
A: Need to investigate different usage by different people. Fit people of all sizes. Can we create one
product that does everything? It’s costly to have multiple sizes. Ergonomics address human body shape.
Model-making. Experimental tests. Trial and error and budget in the real world—a lot of testing to learn
by observation. Observing someone you can learn what they are going through. Experimental trial and
error.
Q: Do you think the current prototype solves initial problem?
A: The real question is how much would someone be willing to pay if this design is better than those in
production? Crutches have been designed this way for a long time.
Q: Who do you think the target market for the Una Crutch would be? [baby boomer to athletic crowd]
A: In the beginning, it’s important to not focus on a specific market. It’s important for me to teach that
you need to understand the target market (in this case 20-somethings), not everybody, but for this project
the design issues need to be addressed first. What’s ahead is some technical issues need to be resolved, do
these first. A good solution that can hold a being, maneuverable, stored, compact, can solve a huge
problem. How can we then adapt it to small kids, etc. market broken into many pieces…principles are the
same, but constraints are different. Do it right first, just one for a normal person to solve problems then try
to focus on a specific market. If hospitals buy a lot of these things, that’s what you go with, but you don’t
start with this.
Q: If this project were to go on to senior design, what kind of team do you think it would need?
A: Industrial Designer and a Mechanical Engineer for sure. At some point, bring in business [not at the
start though]. Don’t wait until it’s too late. There’s a definite advantage with business, but don’t push it;
keep it in the back of your mind. If you continue market study to define target market, get someone from
liberal arts who has a focus in anthropology (they study methodology how people see, observe things).
Q: Who would you think would want a say in the project?
A: The first stakeholder would be you guys (vested interested). Then the school departments that have are
representing the project. RIT has venture capital money at center for student innovation (Richard
Demartino). Bring him in later on in the project (you don’t want to go to early). They help you identify a
target market and would give you money to continue to work with this project. Ideally RIT would give
you a right to continue after graduation because it’s your idea. Learn as much as you can while in school.
Going beyond the curriculum, you need to get credit from school.
Q: How do you feel about the project?
A: It has the potential to move forward. There’s a potential for market, but also students can learn
something while still in school. This is huge. It has a huge benefit when it comes to the interviewing
process in the job market. If you have a project and can push it starting with nothing but an idea, push it
in ME and ID, then it lets you stand out.
Sean Peterson – method for lifting awkward boxes in ways that doesn’t damage back. Marketing,
business while in school. He’s graduating this year and went through the same process the Kyra would
like to.
Reflections:
It definitely helped to get another take on Kyra’s project from someone who saw it from the
beginning to where it is now. He and Kyra are both very eager to get this project into senior design; they
both think it has the potential to be a marketable product. He seemed very interesting in working more
with the college of engineering and the senior design program (he had never even heard of it before
today) with other projects as well.