DESIGN OF DRIVER ENVIRONMENT FOR RIGID INFLATABLE BOAT (RIB) WITH FOCUS ON USER-CENTRED DESIGN (UCD)

Abstract

The study aims to contribute to the literature by comprehensively discussing the importance of design methods to the company's competence in the commercial world and the importance of integrating design into the product development process in the early stages. The driver environment on today's boats is not ergonomically designed and this project aimed to design a new driver environment with improved ergonomics, user experience and aesthetically compelling for the market. The project was conducted with a user-centred design methodology, meaning that all team members were involved throughout the product development process to create design value for users with new solutions that meet their needs. The result is a new console, seating unit and hardtop design that takes into account the importance of ergonomics, user experience and manufacturability. These elements have not only integrated all the equipment in a user-friendly way, but also with easy maintenance and manufacturing options.