When designing for a purpose, it is important not to do a half-arsed job.
Public toilets are changing every day, making them a more pleasant experience. We can thank good design for this. In locations where it allows, we are removing the entry doors for example, and using a ‘maze’ technique to not allow direct view into the toilets, while still allowing the free flow of people, both those that wash their hands….and those that don’t (you know who you are).
Here in lies the issue with public toilets. Everybody believes they themselves are cleaner than the next person. Hygiene concerns are a big issue, and the less people need to touch things, the better they feel, and more inclined they are to use the facilities.
So it is great when we enter a toilet, and there are no entry doors to open, the taps have large handles, some allowing you to use your elbows (like surgeons), or even better, controlled by sensors. Sensors are all the rage right now, water, soap, towels, can all be dispensed with the wave of a hand. But there is no point in intending to do the right thing by people through design, if you're only going to do a half the job.
The photo above shows an ‘accessible’ bathroom. That’s right, for people with less mobility or wheelchairs. The tap handle is great, it’s large, you can use your arm, you don’t require super dexterity or strength to operate it, and the height is right too. Great design right there people!
But now look at the door lock… (here is a close up)
What the hell is that?
That’s just laziness. Did they run out of money? What happened? A great designer would not allow this. Forget budget, that is not the problem. Is it possible there are no decent, human friendly bathroom lock options available? Maybe. But as I always say:
Every problem is an opportunity.
So if you’re a bathroom accessories manufacturer, here you go, a new product line (I accept cash, Paypal, and Bitcoin, hahahaha just kidding).
And if you’re not a bathroom accessories manufacturer, but looking for something to do, here you go. Disrupt the bathroom accessories market. I hope you make a lot of money doing so, because you'll be making a lot of people happy.
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CitizenRod is an entrepreneur, industrial designer, artist, and thinker. Follow his artwork at rodrigoantoniomunoz, his rants here on Steemit, and his current business at Maate.it.
Note: This article was originally posted on Medium by CitizenRod.
