Abstract

This thesis project is a proposal to improve student's life living at college dorms in USA. To accomplish this, a more functional and practical object and also meaningful for students will be design. The main purpose of the object is to meet student's desires and needs of having a fully functional appliance that allows a safe and easy cooking while living at the college dorms. During studies made to students living at college dorms, it was revealed that most of the students struggled cooking and had difficulty assimilating the new eating habits, ending in eating disorders. Despite the fact colleges strove for supplying nutritive food, it was difficult to please every student eating habits. Moreover, cultural differences made even harder that a menu offered by cafeterias at the dorms could supply eating desires from students of other countries. In addition to the results from on campus living studies, this project will also take into account regulations and policies of on campus living that restrict and regulate the use of electric powered or any other type of appliances inside the dorms due to the dangers of fire ignition by appliances. Policies are necessary to protect student's life but are also an opportunity for this project of exploring solutions that provide a safe way for cooking at the dorms. Foreign countries and students in an outside the US are taking advantage of existing appliances that by adapting technology into house ware, are making goods more efficient and safer and then meeting students' needs. US colleges should start revising how to better furnish dorms or even create areas to allow students using appliances safely, so that forbidden objects are not illegally brought inside the dorms, as it is happening now. Besides the practical and safety issues, social affairs are also an important aim for this project. While living at the dorms, students develop strong bonds with roommates, friends, and neighbors. College is the new home for students who almost become a family. The way students furnish their rooms allow them socializing and creating and ambience to feel like at home. Whatever students own and bring inside their rooms is key to foster integration with people around. Thus, the final outcome of this project is meant to ease students' interaction through cooking and sharing exquisite meals with friends and roomies while improving their eating and nutritional habits. I believe the market offers great stuff for students but there is nothing specific to meet the need I am addressing in my thesis project. By means of implementing and existing and efficient technology already developed for other appliances, I can focus on the design and the experience I want to create around it. Using magnetic induction for the cooking section of the appliance, I can ensure there won't be any risk of fire or burned food because of the shut-off system and non-heating surface this technology uses. In addition, students will find within the case, a complete set of all the basic cooking utensils. Therefore, there won't be any lose pieces all around the dorm. On top of the case, the lid also works as a surface area for cutting and getting food ready prior to cooking. The good thing about the system is the fact that it can be carried around, used and accommodated wherever it fits on the room, freeing up the space for other objects or activities. Lastly, the design language is appealing to the target, the sleek and simple design makes the object an elegant appliance that perfectly hides its content and seems a decorative element of the dorm. It comes in three color choices to match the user color preferences. An easy to carry, easy to clean and easy to store design that houses cooking and serving pieces is a perfect complementary appliance that students can acquire by themselves or colleges can provide to be shared by the dorm community in specific areas where they would enjoy it.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Stoves, Electric--Design and construction; Dormitory life--United States; College students--Nutrition

Publication Date

7-1-2008

Document Type

Thesis

Department, Program, or Center

School of Design (CIAS)

Advisor

Kaminski, Kathleen

Advisor/Committee Member

Reddig, Alan

Comments

Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: TX657.S5 L43 2008

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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