A person’s physical size can be an important factor of experience when considering how to design outcomes involving physical interaction. A person’s physical size can prevent them from walking through doorways without ducking. The size of their fingers can make it frustrating to press buttons on screen-based displays. In some cultures and during different historical periods, “small” or “large” physical size has been both favorably and unfavorably viewed by society. A person’s physical can change over time due to various circumstances.
Examples of the Body Size Factor
- Petite child
- Plus-size shopper
- Muscular athlete
- Pregnant person
Researching Body Size
Knowing a person’s size can help researchers create objects that work in harmony with users’ physical makeup. A person’s physical size can impact their access to resources and the ease with which they experience when completing basic tasks. A person whose shoe size is larger than a US 15 can have a very hard time finding shoes; they have access to fewer brands and styles, and shoes typically cost more than ”typical” sizes.
Questions to Ask
- What are this person’s physical dimensions?
- How is a person’s size regarded in the context being studied?
- In what ways does the person’s physical size cause problems when they use products, services, and systems?
Look For
- A person struggling to use something.
- A person who brags about their size.
- A person who actively works to alter their size.
Designing for Body Size
A person’s body size can sometimes mean a product’s design worsens their experience. When designing, consider if body size is a factor that should drive your decision-making.
Sleeping Bag Sizes
A woman is seven months pregnant when camping.
A mummy-style sleeping bag designed for warmth and lightweight packing.
Mummy-style sleeping bags are already tight and constricting. But when someone is pregnant, these bags become nearly unusable. Designers could create a warm, lightweight bag that expands or is suited to body sizes when they change during pregnancy.
Sources
Design
Hassenzahl, M., Diefenbach, S., & Göritz, A. (2010). Needs, affect, and interactive products—facets of user experience. Interacting with Computers, 22(5), 353-362. doi:http://doi.org/10.1016/j.intcom.2010.04.002
Schifferstein, H. N. J., & Hekkert, P. (Eds.). (2008). Product Experience (1st ed.). San Diego, CA: Elsevier.
Natural Science
Collins, M. E., & Collins, M. E. (1991). Body figure perceptions and preferences among preadolescent children. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 10, 199-208.
Furnham, A., Lim, A. N., Furnham, A., & Lim, A. N. (1997). Cross-cultural differences in the perception of male and female body shapes as a function of exercise. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 12, 1037-1053.
Thompson, J. K., & Thompson, C. M. (1986). Body Size Distortion. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 5(6), 1061-1068.