The world’s most inclusive home electronics

Care Electronics is a fine example of Inclusive Design, an approach aimed at making products usable for as many users as possible, regardless of ability or age. In this case, it’s about being able to communicate and enjoy simple things like talking on the phone or watching TV.

Ergonomidesign has developed a range of Inclusive home electronics for Doro, a leading Swedish consumer electronics company. This range, Doro Care Electronics, is designed specifically for seniors with impaired hearing, vision, mobility, dexterity or cognition. The range consists of a mobile phone, two corded phones, a DECT phone and a remote control.

Successfully developing products specifically for people with impairments means applying best practice from many different areas. It requires knowing how and where to use advanced technology without making things too complicated. But it’s also about creating physical designs that put the user’s needs before all else, without giving up on aesthetic considerations.

Through interviews with potential users we found out what seniors consider most important. The handset we designed for the corded phones are just one example of how this influenced our work. Most people we spoke with prefer a traditional style receiver on a corded phone. They also worry about accidentally leaving it off the hook when hanging up. The corded handset feels comfortable, is easy to grasp and replace in its cradle, and it weighs only 160 grams.

We created a unique design identity for the Doro Care range. The strategy was to create a distinct product range that differs from other home electronic products, and also communicates the special features of these products. Therefore we have chosen to create designs that exemplify the very idea of simplicity via simple, clean forms; white products; green details and large high-contrast square buttons.

Doro and Ergonomidesign’s joint efforts are already showing results: the mobile phone is a sales success and the MemoryPlus 319ph, a corded phone specially designed for people with slight dementia and problems with memory loss, has been awarded the prestigious French award, “Janus de la Santé” 2008 by the French Design Institute.

Care Electronics is the strategic business area where Doro is expecting the largest growth within the corporation. The CEO of Doro, Jérome Arnaud, said: “We are on the right track in our investment in Care Electronics. It’s also pleasing that our products for senior citizens are receiving attention from a design perspective, because this type of product has traditionally been limited in terms of form and functionality and has only existed in an isolated part of the market.”

See the movie when Ergonomidesign got nominated to the Grand Award of Design 2010 with Doro PhoneEasy 410: