Abstract
The Flo toilet is a product of a transdisciplinary design process initiated by graduate students and faculty of the Industrial Design department at Arizona State University. The final product illustrates the benefits of collaboration and research. The project offers insight about bridging the gap between research and practice in the academic arena. The Flo team is composed of two graduate students and two faculty members whose experience in Industrial Design is complemented by another area of specialization. Disciplinary interests include mechanical engineering, brand architecture and design management, socio-cultural theory and empirical research, and concept generation and computing technology. In this case, Industrial Design offered a common language for the diverse disciplinary interests of the team members. During the design process, each individual brought their own expertise to empirical data collection, theoretical analysis, engineering specifications, and brand strategy. The resulting form, mechanical functioning, and brand identity of the Flo toilet represent a transdisciplinary effort. The Flo toilet is a paradigm-shifting design solution that satisfies criteria of transgenerational usability, low energy consumption, reduced water use, and innovative mechanical functioning. The interaction between graduate students and faculty also reveals new opportunities for design research in academia.
Keywords
design & innovation processes, design education, human-centered design, innovative technology and accessibility for the elderly & disabled, research and education
Citation
Christensen, T., Takamura, J., Shin, D., and Bacalzo, D. (2006) Go With The Flo: A report on a collaborative toilet design project that utilized a transdisciplinary approach, in Friedman, K., Love, T., Côrte-Real, E. and Rust, C. (eds.), Wonderground - DRS International Conference 2006, 1-4 November, Lisbon, Portugal. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2006/researchpapers/1
Go With The Flo: A report on a collaborative toilet design project that utilized a transdisciplinary approach
The Flo toilet is a product of a transdisciplinary design process initiated by graduate students and faculty of the Industrial Design department at Arizona State University. The final product illustrates the benefits of collaboration and research. The project offers insight about bridging the gap between research and practice in the academic arena. The Flo team is composed of two graduate students and two faculty members whose experience in Industrial Design is complemented by another area of specialization. Disciplinary interests include mechanical engineering, brand architecture and design management, socio-cultural theory and empirical research, and concept generation and computing technology. In this case, Industrial Design offered a common language for the diverse disciplinary interests of the team members. During the design process, each individual brought their own expertise to empirical data collection, theoretical analysis, engineering specifications, and brand strategy. The resulting form, mechanical functioning, and brand identity of the Flo toilet represent a transdisciplinary effort. The Flo toilet is a paradigm-shifting design solution that satisfies criteria of transgenerational usability, low energy consumption, reduced water use, and innovative mechanical functioning. The interaction between graduate students and faculty also reveals new opportunities for design research in academia.