The Role of Universal Design in the Design of a Passive Insulated Food Container

Arvind Gupta, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, USA
Faculty: Brian Donnelly, San Francisco State University

Copyright: Arvind Gupta

Keywords: Universal Design, Food Container

Abstract

The goal of this student design project was to create a product solution to the problem of maintaining hot food temperature and integrity when being delivered from a pre-preparation site aimed at both institutional and commercial use. Universal design principles are a vital component of any well-designed product that will be used by the general public. When designing an insulated food container that would be for institutional and commercial use it became apparent that the principles of universal design would be the driver of many constraints.

[Ed. Note: This student project was developed as part of the work described in the course unit: Universal Product Design- Unit 2: Discovering the Market Need]

Significance

The problem of hot food delivery is broadly encompassing by the scope of people that it affects. Every single person that consumes hot food that is prepared some time before it is served has been affected. Every person in a hospital or convalesced or in a prison has dealt with food that has had to be kept warm during delivery. The Passive Insulated Food Container was designed with the needs of both institutional users and commercial users in mind. This was accomplished by using the constraints of institutional use, the Principles of Universal Design, and the commercial aesthetic.

The finger-operated latch to seal the lid to the body received attention to make sure it was large enough for sizable and weak fingers. The latch extends downward and away from the container wall enough to allow for good leverage by the user and still provide a strong seal.

The portion partition strip attachment is held firmly in place by the lid when the unit is closed so the user only needs to place the tab in place without any force or dexterity required. The bottom of the container is slightly concave to aid in its stability when placed on the lap helping to prevent spillage and increase comfort while eating when not at a table. Those that do not have much dexterity or quick reaction will especially benefit for they can eat with a greater peace of mind. The bright colors give the sick and convalesced a prompt to eat – the container itself becomes a signal that food has arrived because it takes a highly visual interest instead of blending into the environment. The bright colors also are enjoyed by most others including children.

The utensil lid is easy to operate using a latch that extends far enough for fingers to reach under. By taking all the constraints that the principles of universal design uses, innovative and cohesive design directions were discovered that added to the container’s functionality. And that is the true measure of success for a product solution. The impact that the Passive Insulated Food Container could have on the efficiency and cost structure of institutions such as Meals on Wheels or hospitals is great. Meals on Wheels is a food delivery organization that brings meals to seniors who are not able to leave their homes and unable to make meals for themselves. By increasing the amount of time food can stay hot in its container the delivery van can stay in the field longer thereby reducing gas costs, and increasing the number of clients servable with no increase in manpower. That is especially useful for Meals on Wheels, a non-profit organization that survives on donations and federal aid and has more clients than they can serve.

Hospitals see the ability to serve fresher food in containers with a personality that serves as an appetizer for those that are sick and /or scared. For children in a hospital it can add much excitement to eat from a colorful and fun shaped container. Hospitals will also be able to cut costs due to less food spoilage and food wastage. Efficiency can be increased again with no increase in manpower because less people can be used to serve the same area since the food continues to remain warm. The overall design was a success because of the guidelines of universal design working closely with the creation of an aesthetically appealing and very functional food container. The double wall with a vacuum drawn between them provides the insulation and it is effective for up to four hours. This again opens the opportunity for consumers looking to store food for lunch or picnic to the institution trying to increase efficiency while decreasing costs.

Methodology

I began by imagining the types of problems that might be encountered by children and the elderly as they go through a day of using the Passive Insulated Food Container. This led to some insights, and was followed by observations of persons using current hot food delivery solutions. Insights gained from this were that of appropriateness of material selection, container temperature requirements and the importance of microwave ability. After this I interviewed the director of operations for Meals on Wheels in San Francisco, and the head of operations for the kitchen at University of California San Francisco medical center. They told me about patient appetites and the use of the container as a prompt to eat, and confirmed the need for a more total hot food container delivery system. Once an overall design direction was in place, I created foam mock-ups that were used in a focus group of elderly people to determine refinements needed. Portion size, ease of opening, and ease of carrying were confirmed and refined.

Outcomes or Results

By using Universal Design principles as a driver for constraints, creative and innovative solutions were discovered that accommodated all users and ultimately made a product that was a joy to use. Aesthetic considerations do not need to be abandoned when working within Universal Design; rather they are just as important. It is a great stretch to say that children or the elderly do not care about the visual and aesthetic impact of a product. They see the form and colors of the Passive Insulated Food Container and are excited which is a functional aspect of the container. By incorporating the needs of the third standard deviation person, the first and second benefit greatly from ease of use and a more thought out product solution.

For more information contact Arvind Gupta at arvindgupta@sbcglobal.net.

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Citation: Gupta, Arvind (2003).The Role of Universal Design in the Design of a Passive Insulated Food Container ©. Retrieved (Enter Date), from Universal Design Education Online web site: http://www.udeducation.org/teach/student/gupta.asp