The Ergonomics in Design Laboratory operates in the field of Ergonomics applied to the assessment and design of spaces, products, services and equipment.

The scientific and operational aims of the Laboratory are the development and application of ergonomic assessment methodologies, both in the field of traditional ergonomics and in those of usability and Human-Centred Design.

The Laboratory operates in particular:

• In the development of research programmes on ergonomics issues, with a special focus on security and usability in spaces, products and equipment, at all stages of design process, from the first idea to development and production.
• In the development of advanced services for public and private research entities, public administrations and companies, in the field of the ergonomics assessment of industrial products, equipment and facilities.
• In activities in support of teaching at all three levels of university education, in all aspects regarding the application and experimentation of methods, assessment procedures and ergonomic design.

The Laboratory undertakes its activities in collaboration with the Sustainable Design Laboratory and the Design Modelling Laboratory of the Department of Architecture DIDA, together with the Occupational Medicine section of the Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, and the Department of Education and Psychology of the University of Florence.

The Laboratory works with:

Activities:

The specific activities of the Ergonomics in Design Laboratory are:

• usability assessment through objective evaluation procedures (expert assessment, task analysis, physical-dimensional assessment);
• usability and safety in use assessments undertaken through involving users methods (user trials) both in the Laboratory and on field;
• conformity with the technical UNI/ISO regulations concerning ergonomics;
• comparative testing of products;
• development of design guidelines;
• definition of innovative design concepts;
• modelling and virtual simulation of the user-space-product interaction for the control of anthropometric and bio-mechanic parameters (in collaboration with the Occupational Medicine section of the Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine);
• assessment of the sensorial effects of materials and surfaces (in collaboration with Sustainable Design Laboratory);
• creation of prototypes for the development and verification of user trials (in collaboration with Design Modelling Laboratory).

Areas of intervention

• daily use products;
• systems and products;
• products, equipment and work stations;
• interface systems and control panels;
• home and work spaces;
• packaging systems;
• sport products, equipment and facilities, both professional and amateur;
• products, equipment and facilities for weak users (especially the elderly, handicapped and people with physical or sensory discomforts);
• products, equipment and facilities for health and care purposes.

Opening hours

By appointment only: lab.ergonomia@dida.unifi.it

Production and research

• 
  CloudIA
    Development and testing
  of Robotic and social services
  in the cloud to support
  vulnerable and non
  self-sufficient people in
  residential structures
  
• 
  PudCad
  Practicing Universal Design
  Principles in Design Education
  through a CAD-Based Game
• 
  Inail
  Workstationand high-handed
  industrial machineries evaluation,
  in small and medium
  manufacturing industry
  with particular
  attention to older workers
• 
  UX Skillrow Evaluation
  UX evaluation of Skillrow,
  the new rowing ergometer
  by Technogym Spa
• 
  PIU
  Progetto di
  Innovazione Urbana
  Cecina  
    Design guidelines for
  accessibility, urban ergonomics
  and wayfinding of
  the the school village

Workshops

• • 
    Workshop Smart Running 2
       Defining scenarios and concepts
    of products and systems
    for the outdoor
    workout experiences
    
    
  • 
    Workshop Urban ergonomic
    design for Figline Valdarno   
      Design solutions for
    the historic center of
    Figline Valdarno
    
    

• 
  

  Workshop Art and Design 2
  

      Art and Design solutions
  for industrial areas.
  In collaboration with the
  Municipality of Calenzano
  
  
  
• 
  Workshop Between
  art and design
  in Italy 1927 - 2017  
  Design concepts based
  on future visions concerning
  technological and
  lifestyle innovations

• 
  Workshop Art and Design 1 
       New concepts for
  the outdoor setting
  
  
  
• 
  Workshop Outdoor
  furniture design   
        Defining new design solutions
  for the urban furniture
  and outdoor spaces
  
  
  

Teaching/Courses

• 
  Ergonomic Design
  Laboratory
  Theoretical and applied ergonomics
  for the design of products
  and  product systems
  

Master

• 
  Master Degree in Ergonomics
  I Edition
  Product ergonomics for
  equipment and services
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  Master Degree in Ergonomics
  II Edition
  Space, product
  and organization ergonomics
  

Events

• 
  Design Stories
  cycle of conferences
  aimed at the promotion of research
  and the valorization of the link
  between university and business

Traineeships

The Laboratory accepts a maximum of three active trainees at a time.