The Right Way to Measure Body Parts for Product Design

Hey there, curious minds! Ever wondered how designers make sure that the products we use, wear, or interact with fit us perfectly? Well, there's more to it than meets the eye. Let's dive into the fascinating world of measuring body parts for product development, and why it's crucial to get it right.

Fit Matters: Don't Impede the Function

When it comes to creating products for human use, be it a virtual reality headset, a seatbelt, or even the interior of a truck cab, getting the fit right is essential. Believe me, you wouldn't want a virtual reality headset that pinches your head or a car seat that makes you feel like a sardine.  Creating incredible brand experiences demands that users’ interactions with products deliver a comfortable fit and enable the highest levels of user performance. 

But here's the catch – it's not always as straightforward as it seems. Sometimes, identifying the right body part to measure can be a real head-scratcher.

The Not-So-Obvious Measurement

Misidentifying what needs to be measured can lead to products that simply don't work as they should. A personal experience of mine highlights this issue. During a holiday visit with my grandkids in Minnesota, we were deciding who should sit in the backseat of the car between two car seats. I ended up in the back, as I had the smallest "derriere." Well, it turns out that those car seats were wider at the top than their base, and my shoulders suffered the consequences. Quick measurement guess equals an uncomfortable car ride!

The lesson here? Measuring body parts for product design can be tricky business, and making assumptions can lead to ill-fitting products on store shelves.

More to Consider than Which Body Part

Let's not forget that it's not just about which body part to measure but also considering body capabilities, like reach and effective reach. Take the example of designing an assembly line with belt, bin attachments, and controls. You may measure arm reach to determine where to place bins and controls, but it's not that simple.

Heavier employees may have different effective arm reaches due to their protruding stomachs, which must be considered for the product to work well for all users. In product design, it's not just what you measure but how you interpret and apply those measurements.

Recreating Measurement Offers Additional Challenge

So, you've got the right body part to measure, and you've considered body capabilities. What's next? Well, once you have good data from anthropometry experts, it's time to develop a prototype and test it on real, living test subjects. Measuring critical dimensions on these subjects ensures that the product fits a representative range of people.

However, here's the catch – you must use the same techniques to measure test subjects as were used when collecting the original data. Any discrepancies in measurement techniques can lead to inaccurate results, and that's a big no-no in the world of product development.

Count on the Experts

Designing products for diverse populations is a challenge, and there's a lot of room for potential error. However, the good news is that anthropometry experts have faced these challenges head-on. We know exactly what we're looking for, can help developers pinpoint the right body part, and ensure that all measurements are uniform and accurate. So, rest assured, there are experts out there to guide us in this fascinating world of measuring the right body parts for product design.

In the end, the key takeaway is this: when it comes to creating products that fit just right, it's not just about the size of your body parts – it's about how those parts will be moving when the user is engaging with the product. So, the next time you put on a well-fitting seatbelt or enjoy a comfortable virtual reality experience, you'll know that it's all thanks to precise measurements and experts who've got it down to a science.