Building a computer is a difficult task which is why many choose to purchase a laptop or a pre-built stationary computer. However, some users choose to build a computer, allowing them to customize it to fit their needs. As technology advances, our electronic devices becomes more and more compact. Computers are no different, a rising trend in computer building is small form factor computer chassis. While these chassis are smaller and allow users to more effectively use their space at home, they become increasingly difficult to build in. In this master's thesis, I focus on developing a small form factor computer chassis that facilitates a positive building experience for the user. The project bears no ties with any company and is carried out exclusively by me (Niklas Bagge). The project was performed according to a three-phase design process which consisted of the following phases: contextual immersion phase, ideation and conceptualization, and implementation. Roughly 50% of the project was spent in the contextual immersion phase researching literature, performing interviews, distributing surveys, benchmarking, and analysing contextual data. In the next phase, ideation and conceptualization, ideas were generated using many different methods, many times in collaboration with users. Ideas were further developed, tested, evaluated, and selected before entering the implementation phase. The selected concepts were then combined and implemented to create a final concept. The project resulted in a small form factor chassis with an entirely new approach to computer building.The chassis is delivered in a flat package to the consumer, which is then assembled by the user. The design allows for cheaper production and distribution of the chassis, but most importantly, it facilitates an open assembly environment for the user. The chassis also integrates various new solutions that contribute to anoverall easier, more efficient, and more intuitive building process.

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I dagens samhälle finns en allmänt negativ inställning till klimakteriet som grundar sig i genusnormer. Majoriteten av de metoder som finns för att behandla klimakteriebesvär är medicinska och de personer som av olika anledningar inte använder dem lämnas utan alternativ.Den här studien undersökte hur produktdesign kan användas för att underlätta klimakteriebesvär och samtidigt synliggöra klimakteriet. Syftet var att synliggöra klimakteriet och genom det bidra till en positiv inställning till det. Det konkreta målet var att ta fram ett förslag på en produkt som i största möjliga mån uppnår syftet. Studien vilar på en teoretisk grund av genusvetenskap, historisk syn på gynekologin och kvinnosyn, normkritik, normkreativitet samt normkreativ- och användarcentrerad design. Den empiriska insamlingen bestod huvudsakligen av intervjuer och diskussioner med representanter för målgruppen (personer med klimakteriebesvär) samt undersökningar av den befintliga marknaden för klimakterieprodukter och varför den ser ut som den gör.Studiens slutsats visar att en produkt som ska kunna underlätta klimakteriebesvär och samtidigt synliggöra klimakteriet måste uppfylla tre kriterier; underlätta besvären rent praktiskt, vara uppseendeväckande samt vara något som målgruppen är bekväm med att använda bland folk. Den produkt som har tagits fram i den här studien ses enbart som ett av många möjliga lösningsförslag då det inte finns ett korrekt svar på hur en klimakterieprodukt kan se ut eller fungera. Genom att se bortom de normer som vanligtvis styr hur klimakteriebesvär behandlas går det att ta fram nya innovativa alternativ. / Due to gender norms, the general attitude towards menopause in today’s society is negative. The majority of available methods to ease menopause symptoms are medical alternatives and the ones who choose not to use those, for different reasons, are left without an option.This study examined how product design can be used to ease menopausal related problems and contribute to put focus on menopause. The purpose was to make menopause more visible and by that contribute to a positive attitude towards it. The overarching goal was to develop a proposal for a product achieving that. The study relies on a theoretical foundation of gender studies, a historical view of gynecology and perception of women, norm criticism, norm creativity, norm creative design and human-centered design. The empirical evidence consisted mainly of interviews and discussions with representatives from the target group (people with menopausal related problems) and market research of existing menopausal products.The conclusion of the study shows that for making it possible for a product to both ease menopausal problems and make menopause more visible it needs to fulfil three criteria; in a way practically ease the symptoms, be eye-catching and be something the target group are comfortable using around other people. The product that has been developed in this study is only to be considered as one of many possible solutions since there is no correct answer to how a menopausal product should look or function. By moving beyond the norms, that usually control how menopausal problems are treated, it is possible to develop new and innovative alternatives.

Yes / Purpose Medicine shortages have a detrimental impact on stakeholders in the pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC). Existing studies suggest that building resilience strategies can mitigate the effects of these shortages. As such, this research aims to examine whether resilience strategies can reduce the impact of medicine shortages in the United Kingdom's (UK) PSC. Design/methodology/approach A sequential mixed-methods approach that involved qualitative and quantitative research enquiry was employed in this study. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 23 key UK PSC actors at the qualitative stage. During the quantitative phase, 106 respondents completed the survey questionnaires. The data were analysed using partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Findings The results revealed that reactive and proactive elements of resilience strategies helped tackle medicine shortages. Reactive strategies increased relational issues such as behavioural uncertainty, whilst proactive strategies mitigated them. Practical implications The findings suggest that PSC managers and decision-makers can benefit from adopting structural flexibility and proactive strategies, which are cost-effective measures to tackle medicine shortages. Also engaging in strategic alliances as a proactive strategy mitigates relational issues that may arise in a complex supply chain (SC). Originality/value This study is the first to provide empirical evidence of the impact of resilience strategies in mitigating medicine shortages in the UK's PSC.

Syfte - Studiens mål var att bidra med kunskap om arbetsmiljö vid distansarbete och saknaden av föreskrifter för arbete utanför arbetsgivarens lokaler. Vidare har arbetsmiljön forskats djupare i för att förstå vilka aspekter inom arbetsmiljö som distansarbetare drabbas mest av som grund för designarbete för en produkt som lösning till problemen. Metodologi - Studien har genomförts med användarcentrerad design, co-design samt ergonomi i fokus. Dessa teorier har varit nödvändiga för bakgrundskunskap samt designprocessen. Under studiens gång har deltagare använts som hjälp för att förstå personer som drabbas av problemområdets erfarenheter och åsikter om deras arbetsmiljö men även vid viktiga designbeslut i processen. Upptäckter - Deltagarna visade att de generellt var nöjda med sin arbetssituation vid distans. Dock fanns det vissa problem som de var mindre nöjda med som främst gällde sociala aspekter. Flera deltagare menade att de hade svårheter med att mentalt skilja på sin arbetsplats och hem. Det kunde leda till att arbete gjordes under tider på dagen där de vanligtvis hade varit lediga, att inte tillräckligt mycket raster togs under arbetsdagen, att de hade svårt att komma igång med arbetet på morgonen eller att de hade svårt att avsluta arbetsdagen på kvällen. Förslag - Ett förslag på en skrivbordslampa designades med samarbete tillsammans med studiens deltagare. Som lösning på problemen med att ha svårigheter att skilja på arbetsplats och hem har lampan en interaktion likt en fönsterpersienn. Tanken bakom interaktionen är att en mänsklig interaktion krävs för att komma in i läge för arbete, likt hur man drar upp persiennerna när man vaknar på morgonen. / Purpose - The aim of the study was to contribute to knowledge about the work environment in remote work settings and the lack of regulations for work outside the employer’s premises. Furthermore, the work environment has been researched in depth to understand which aspects within the work environment remote workers are most affected by, as a basis for designing a product to address these problems. Methodology - The study has been conducted using user-centered design, codesign, and ergonomics as the main focus. These theories have been essential for both background knowledge and the design process. Throughout the study, participants have been utilized to understand the experiences and opinions of individuals affected by the problem area regarding their work environment, as well as for making important design decisions during the process. Findings - Participants generally expressed satisfaction with their remote work situation. However, there were certain issues they were less satisfied with, primarily concerning social aspects. Several participants reported difficulties mentally separating their workspace from their home environment. This could lead to work being done during times of the day when they would typically be off, insufficient breaks taken during the workday, difficulty starting work in the morning, or trouble ending the workday in the evening. Suggestions - A proposal for a desk lamp was designed in collaboration with the study’s participants. As a solution to the difficulties in distinguishing between workspace and home environment, the lamp features an interaction similar to a window blind. The idea behind this interaction is that a human interaction is required to transition into work mode, similar to how one opens the blinds upon waking up in the morning.

Lower back pain is a widespread problem affecting millions worldwide, because understanding its development and effective treatment remains challenging. Current treatment success is often evaluated using patient-reported outcomes, which tend to be qualitative and subjective in nature, making objective success measurement difficult. Wearable sensors can provide quantitative measurements, thereby helping physicians improve care for countless individuals around the world. These sensors also have the potential to provide longitudinal data on daily motion patterns, aiding in monitoring the progress of treatment plans for lower back pain. In this work it was hypothesized that a new wearable sensor garment that makes use of high-deflection strain gauge technology--called the Z-SPINE System--will be capable of collecting biomechanical information capable of detecting characteristics of motion associated with chronic lower back pain from subjects as compared to skin-adhered wearable sensor systems. The initial prototyping development of the Z-SPINE System focused on optimizing the device's conformity to the skin, as well as the ease of use and comfortability of the design. Preliminary motion capture tests concluded that a waist belt made of an elastic four way stretch material with silicone patches and no ribbing had the highest skin conformity of the garment types tested, and further design decisions were made utilizing this knowledge. A human subject study was conducted with 30 subjects who performed 14 functional movements with both the Z-SPINE System, and the SPINE Sense System--a pre-existing wearable sensor system that utilizes the same high-deflection strain gauge technology and is adhered directly to the back. Multiple features were extracted from the strain sensor datasets for use in machine learning modeling, where the model was trained to distinguish the different movements from each other. The accuracy of the model was assessed using 4 different category number variations--two 4 category, one 7 category, and one 13 category variation. Four different machine learning models were used, with the random forest classifier generally performing the best, yielding prediction accuracies of 85.95% for the SPINE Sense System data, and 71.23% for the Z-SPINE System data in the 4 category tests. As an additional part of the human subject study, the usability of the Z-SPINE System was also assessed. Each participant filled out a system usability scale questionnaire in regards to their opinion and experience with the system after having used it; the average score given by participants was 83.4, with general feedback consisting of positive remarks about the comfort and ease of use of the current design and suggestions for improving the battery placement and fit of the Z-SPINE system. It is concluded that a machine learning model of the data from the Z-SPINE System can identify biomechanical motion with reasonable accuracy as compared to a skin-adhered wearable sensor system when the number of categories is limited. It is also concluded that the system is simple and intuitive to use.

A gap exists in the methods used in industry and available in academia that prevents customers and engineers from having a voice when considering engineering risk appetite in the dynamic shaping of early-phase conceptual design trade study outcomes. Current methods used in Collaborative Design Centers either collect risk information after a conceptual design has been created, treat risk as an afterthought during the trade study process, or do not consider risk at all during the creation of conceptual designs. This dissertation proposes a risk-informed decision making framework that offers a new way to account for risk and make decisions based upon risk information within conceptual complex system design trade studies. A meaningful integration of the consideration of risk in trade studies is achieved in this framework thus elevating risk to the same level as other important system-level design parameters. Trade-offs based upon risk appetites of individuals are explicitly allowed under the framework, enabled by an engineering-specific psychometric risk survey that provides aspirational information to use in utility functions. This dissertation provides a novel framework and supporting methodologies for risk-informed design decisions and trades to be made that are based upon engineering risk appetites in conceptual design trade studies. / Graduation date: 2012

Stab resistant body armour had been used throughout history, with examples ranging from animal hide construction to the moulded Polycarbonate units typically used by United Kingdom (UK) Police Officers. Such protective articles have historically, and continue to present a number of issues which have shown to impair the operational performance of its wearer including but not exclusive to poor thermal regulation, large masses, and reduced manoeuvrability. A number of developments have been made in an attempt to minimise the effects of such issues. One potential solution yet to be fully explored is the utilisation of Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies. In recent years the use of such manufacturing technologies, particularly Laser Sintering, has successfully demonstrated their suitability for a range of high performance applications ranging from Formula 1® to aerospace. Due to the fundamental additive nature of AM build processes, the utilisation of such technologies have facilitated the realisation of design concepts that are typically too expensive, difficult or impossible to create using traditional manufacturing processes. In order for AM technologies to be used for the generation of stab resistant body armour a number of historical issues and performance characteristics fundamental to ensure stab resistance is achieved must be satisfied. This body of research firstly evaluated the stab resistive performance of two of the most common materials suitable for Laser Sintering as highlighted by an initial review of AM technologies. Once an appropriate material had been highlighted it was used as the basis for further experimental testing. Such tests focussed on minimising the material thickness required to maintain an appropriate level of stab resistance within United Kingdom Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB) KR1-E1 requirement of 24 Joules of stab impact energy. Test results demonstrated that specimens manufactured from Duraform EX® required a minimum single layer thickness of 11.00 mm, and a dual layer total thickness of 9.00 mm to provide an appropriate level of stab protection within the HOSDB KR1-E1 standard. Coupled with the results generated from an investigation identifying the overlapping/imbricated assembly angle required to maintain an appropriate level of coverage across a scale structure, the stab resistant characteristics initially identified were used for the development of an imbricated scale-like assembly. Additional design features were also investigated to further minimise the total thickness of the final element design and corresponding assembled imbricated structure such features included angling strike surfaces and integrating a dual layered structure within individual elements. When the finalised imbricated assemblies were stab tested, they successfully demonstrated levels of stab resistance to the UK HOSDB KR1-E1 impact energy of 24 Joules.

Our understanding of the effects that human production and consumption has on our planet and its resources has challenged us to think differently when developing new products. In response to these problems, Eco Design has been developed over the last few decades. Eco Design is a process integrated into product and engineering design that aims to lower the environmental impact of products across their life cycle, whilst not hindering design brief criteria such as function, price, performance, and quality. Research in Eco Design has focused mainly on the development of new tools and ways to implement Eco Design in industry. However, there is still little empirical knowledge today regarding the state of Eco Design implementation and practices in industry; in addition to the prerequisite needs and factors to successfully implement Eco Design. The aim of this research has been to review the level and type of Eco Design in the British Product Design industry and to identify recurrent themes helping or hindering implementation. This was achieved through the use of a pilot study followed by a two stage case study design, involving 20 cases and 57 participants across 65 interviews. The investigation and its analysis produced 12 confirmed themes, each generating their own drivers and barriers to Eco Design implementation. This research into Eco Design implementation provides a unique contribution and a timely insight into the Eco Design practices of the British Product Design industry today. The research also provides the novel contribution of identifying the drivers and barriers to implementing and sustaining Eco Design, as well as an understanding of the strengths and shortfalls of the current Eco Design processes and tools. These contributions to knowledge in the field of Eco Design will help future research formulate better solutions to implement Eco Design processes in the Product Design industry.

Growing recognition of the profound topics affecting society; including population changes, social issues, and environmental crisis; is emphasising the need for industrial designers to address additional goals beyond those associated with purely commercial targets. Industrial design consultants, however, have a myriad of complex and inter-related elements influencing their work. This thesis investigates those influences and offers a portrayal of what affects industrial design consultants addressing more responsible design goals within their commercial remits. It reviews the literature relating to the nature and role of industrial design, and its relationship with society s larger needs. From this, it expounds the methodology underpinning the investigation, and describes the phases involved. Two main studies were undertaken to pursue the research objectives: an explorative workshop involving 19 participants from design practice and academia; and a series of semi-structured in-depth interviews involving a total of 31 industrial design consultants, leading academics, and design-related strategic consultants. From the analysis of the data, three sets of key observations and theory are presented in the thesis. The first set of findings examines the range of influencing factors acting on the consultant and their work by depicting the characteristics of the main elements constructing the product creation context. The second and principal set of findings identifies what determines the possibility for consultants to incorporate responsible design goals within their work. Using a framework derived from the analysis, and drawing on interview data for empirical backing, it expands on six key areas, identifying a critical determining factor for each. The third set of outcomes combines the findings from the primary data with existing knowledge on design actions and behavioural theory, to depict the formation of an industrial design consultant s behaviour and their tendencies towards responsible design. In this way, the research offers a thorough investigation of what affects industrial design consultants addressing more responsible design goals, by considering the characteristics of their circumstances; the determination of their possibility to act; and what shapes their individual behaviour.