Guide to the Department of Industrial Design. Universal Kitchen records, 1990-2002

Series I. Audio/Video recordings
The 59 videos document time motion studies, presentations by outside consultants, news coverage, testing and demonstrations, studio crits and discussions, and advisory committees. The two audio cassettes record lectures by Bill Stumpf and Ralph Caplan on universal design given at Brown University's Salomon Center. The 1996 lectures were part of the "Design for the 21st Century" lecture series sponsored by RISD's Department of Interior Architecture.

Series II. Slides, Photographs, and Negatives
The series includes over 5000 slides with a few photos and negatives for the University Kitchen Project that document the classroom presentations, drafts, craft processes, models, test processes, especially with wheelchairs, user simulations, and delivery processes. The collection presents the final results of island and dishwasher mock-ups as well as the max, mid, and mini kitchens. Ranged from 1992-2002, the bulk of the slides are stored in notebook slide sleeves organized by semester. Slides in box 4 are stored in slide sleeves. Most of the slides are not labeled, but each notebook may have a brief content description. Post-it notes may be used to identify individuals or photographers, who include RISD faculty Marc Harrison and Mark Johnston.

Series III. Faxes
Faxes covering 1997 May-1998 November document the activities of the project team including project manager Michael Lye’s coordination work, and Notch Design Group’s design prototype. Philip Martin contributed a lot to concept solutions and revisions. Design director Peter Wooding, Nathan Dean, Jon Woodman, Roger Antaya appear several times. Important documents include exhibition plans of the Universal Kitchen Exhibition in Cooper-Hewitt Museum, project director Jane K. Langmuir’s invitation to Fisher and Paykel Appliances, Inc and Sony Corporation. Corporations include 3-D Technical Services, Art Form Inc., Broan Mfg. Co., Inc., Design Standards, Frigidaire, Garcy Stud, item products, Inc., Monarch Appliances, Notch Design Group Inc., Panoramic Architectural Products, Rare Media Well Done, Inc., and Sony Corporation. Organized chronologically in notebooks, the faxes have been removed and placed in folders.

Series IV. Research records
This collection documents research reports and publications, including the professors' and students' research materials and concepts, corporations' surveys and reports (partly confidential), and handicapped design specification publications. The themes range from categorized kitchen segment studies, behavioral maps, demographic and consumer studies, and design for the handicapped and elderly... The records are from 1990-1998 but publications may date earlier.

Subseries I. Students and Professors mixed
Thge mixed student and professor records document the Workteam activities, 1990-1998, and contains meeting notes, criteria and evaluation, 2D product layouts, control and dishwasher studies, photographs, and faxes. The Workteam records include meeting agendas and notes, demographics, research reports, contact sheets, and leaflets for dishwashers, water delivery, water quality, food waste recycler, and hydroponics. The records include prototype drawings consisting of concept drawings, 2D product layouts of storage, fridge, water management, tactile studies, carts, cooking surface, ventilation, controls, counter top, and floor plan. The Universal Kitchen Concepts includes mid kitchen design concepts and prototype; drafts of storage, floor, H2O process, ventilation, cooking, dish cleaning, adjustability system, closures, surface contours. and carts.

The records include two studies: Kohler Co. Needs/Benefits Kitchen Segmentation Study composed of studies and leaflets on filtration, chiller, gray water, anti microbial, and H2O management; analysis on consumer segmentation by Market Probe, Inc. (confidential) and Dowbrands Inc. Food Care New Products Opportunity Analysis Final Report contains basic measures, business potential assessment, task diagnostics, food continuum consumer segments, and strategic implications.

Companies mentioned include Dow Chemical Company, Kohler Company, Frigidaire Company, and Notch Design Group Inc.

Subseries II. Faculty collection
This collection documents research reports and publications, including the professors' and students' research materials and concepts, corporations' surveys and reports (partly confidential), and handicapped design specification publications. The themes range from categorized kitchen segment studies, behavioral maps, demographic and consumer studies, and design for the handicapped and elderly... The records are from 1990-1998 but publications may date earlier.

Series V. Research records Part 2 Faculty collection

Part 2 documents research conducted by Industrial Design faculty Marc Harrison and Michael Lye, including handicapped design specification publications acquired by Harrison. The collection consists of books, slides, work records, faxes, photos of brainstorming sessions, Cooper-Hewitt museum exhibition records, and industry brochures. Few are confidential. Publications date to 1964 but the bulk of the records are from 1995-1998.

Series V. Large Format Diagrams
This is a collection of large format documents, including behavioral maps, portfolios, and plans and perspectives. Dated from Dec 1994 to Aug 1998, the records include students' work and their collaboration with corporations. Some are taken out and put in acid-free files.

Subseries I. Behavioral Maps
This is a small collection of behavioral maps, documenting assembly, preparation, main dish, side dish, dessert, cleaning...and paired cooking process. Some are mounted, some in large format. The cooking steps breakdown is also included, which lists 156 steps of cooking and dining pasta and salad. The Home Water Management chart by Kohler Co. is confidential. Most of the records are undated.

Subseries II. Portfolio 1
Portfolio #1 documents color renderings and material samples of max, mid, mini kitchens; mounted drawings of dimensioned perspectives, and wireframe perspectives of max kitchen. The mounted drawings were created between 1994 Feb-May, the others are undated.

Subseries III. Portfolio #2
Portfolio #2 documents mostly drawings and two papers ranging from 1994-1997. It consists of behavioral maps, concept drawings, components breakdown, perspectives, and kit of parts instructions. Besides, Breakdown of the meal preparation process analyzes the steps of basic cooking, and the Charrette folder includes a letter to Jane Langmuir.

Subseries IV. Portfolio #3
Portfolio #3 documents the drawings and a letter to Allen Morse about carts’ design. The drawings ranged from 1995-1998, but many are undated. Behavioral maps, concept drawings, dimensioned perspectives and floor plans constitute the majority.

Subseries V. Portfolio #4
Portfolio #4 documents large format photos, drawings, and time-motion studies. The works are not dated but according to the inventory list, most works are from 1994-1995.

Subseries VI. Portfolio #5
Portfolio #5 documents drawings between summer '96 and winter '97. Most are undated but likely from the same session as the dated. In 1996 summer students created concept drawings of waste management, water management, packaging, storage, cleaning, racks, counter, and carts. In 1997, time-motion studies, cooking process breakdown, assemblage plans, and perspective drawings were created.

Subseries VII. Large Format Plans
This is a small collection of large format plans and perspectives. Dated from Dec 1997 to Aug 1998, RISD cooperated with Jutras Woodworking Inc. to furnish and fabricate the mini kitchen and multiple appliance columns. The scales range from 1:8 to 1:1.