Participants: 3 Asian international students who live in shared accommodations, share public washing machines, and have recently moved to the UK
Sector: Design, Sustainability
My Role: Researcher
Methodology: KWHLAQ, 5W1H, Contextual Interview, Observation, Affinity Diagramming, Auto-ethnography, AEIOU, User Journey Map, HMW Evaluation Matrix, HMW Statements
Research Time: 2 months
Introduction
This study aims to discover how people adapt their clothes-washing habits when they relocate in the UK. For most people, laundry is a complex and time-consuming activity that is influenced by their living environment, cultural differences and personal habits. Moreover, clothes washing involves the use of various tools and resources, which can have significant environmental impacts.
Hunt Statement
KWHLAQ
The KWHLAQ Chart is a valuable tool for gaining insights through reviewing and reflecting on secondary research, which helps guide the formulation of the hunt statement.
5W1H
“I am going to research the clothes washing practices of Asian international students who live in shared accommodations, share public washing machines, and have recently moved to the UK, to identify opportunities to enhance the sustainability of their washing practices."
The hunt statement was created using the 5W1H exploration method and the KWHLAQ chart, enabling a deeper analysis of various aspects of laundry practices and behaviours. Consequently, the research was narrowed to compare their washing habits in their home countries and the UK, focusing on behaviour changes and how they adapt to using different washing machines.
Participants
P01 Male/24 🇨🇳
In the UK, he lives on-campus in a shared flat with a laundry room located in a separate building, whereas in China, his school accommodation has a shared laundry room within the same building.
P02 Male/23 🇹🇼
In the UK, he lives off-campus in a shared flat with a washing machine located in the kitchen, whereas in Taiwan, he lives at home and shares a washing machine with his family.
P03 Female/22 🇰🇷
In the UK, she lives on-campus in a shared flat with a laundry room located in a separate building, whereas in South Korea, she lives at home and shares a washing machine with her family.
The practice of washing clothes is deeply rooted in cultural traditions. In most Asian countries, vertical-axis washing machines are the most common. These machines often allow users to add clothes in the middle of washing, providing additional flexibility. In contrast, washing machines in the UK typically offer fewer choices, with settings mainly focused on selecting colour and temperature.
Contextual Interview
This study employed semistructured interviews, with questions crafted in alignment with the hunt statement. This method enables me to directly access users' personalities, desires, and emotions, allowing for the exploration of in-depth information.
Data collection
The interviews were lasting no more than 30 minutes. Participants were asked a series of questions about their laundry practices in the UK and their home countries.
"Tell me a story about when you last did your laundry in your home country and in the UK."
"How frequently do you wash your clothes? Why?"
"What were your feelings when you washed your clothes for the first time in the UK?"
Reduce the frequency of washing clothes in the UK
"I wash my clothes when I feel they need it, but I've reduced the frequency of washing them in the UK because I have to pay for using the facilities."
The choice of detergent
"I prefer using capsules for their convenience, but in my home country, I typically choose a familiar liquid brand for laundry."
Unfamiliar with the washing amenities
"I find it quite complicated. I’m not going to spend a lot of time figuring out the washing machine. I also encountered some challenges, such as not knowing which mode to select for the dryer. Sometimes I ended up choosing the wrong one, and my clothes didn’t dry properly."
Design Ethnography: Observation
Design Ethnography is a qualitative research method that involves observing and engaging with users in their real-life environments to develop a deeper understanding and empathy. The goal was to uncover the meanings behind users' behaviours when using washing machines—insights that they might not be consciously aware of.
These observations spanned the entire laundry process, from preparing the laundry to removing the cleaned clothes from the washing machine.
AEIOU
The AEIOU framework effectively visualises and organises data collected during participant observations by categorising it into five guiding taxonomies: Activities, Environments, Interactions, Objects, and Users. This method was well-suited for this study as it highlights the essential elements of participants' laundry routines.
P01 expressed doubts about the machines' ability to truly clean clothes.
"In my opinion, public washing machines didn't really get the stain out."
P02 selected the colours mode, which takes about an hour.
"In Taiwan, I used the daily mode and cold wash settings for laundry."
P03 separates different materials when washing, keeping bedding and regular clothes apart, and uses different washing modes for each.
"If it’s cotton and machine washable, I might hand wash it before putting it in the washing machine."
User Journey Map
To systematically track an individual’s behaviours, interactions, and emotions over time as they interact with a specific service. It helps to identify moments that evoke strong emotional responses and highlights pain points in the user experience (Hanington and Martin, 2019).
Data Analysis
Affinity Diagramming
It is a technique used to externalise, understand, and organise large amounts of unstructured and seemingly dissimilar qualitative data (Hartson and Pyla, 2018). This process helps gain meaningful insights and synthesise what was seen, heard, and observed during the research.
Participants' movements and quotes
Heading
Themes
Generating Insights
The insights were organised through a detailed analysis of the findings, encompassing what was observed or heard, an exploration of their implications, and a contemplation of the relevance of each insight.
What it Means: Interpretation of user behaviours and attitudes
Why it Matters:The inferences made by the researcher regarding user behaviours and attitudes and their connection to the hunt statement
Findings
What it Means
Why it Matters
Participants are reluctant to spend time learning how to use the washing machines effectively.
A lack of understanding can result in incorrect settings when washing different types of clothes.
Improper use of washing machines can result in wasted water and energy.
Participants' laundry habits are shaped by their dressing routines, with two participants washing clothes more frequently due to sports activities.
The use of washing machines is shaped by personal experiences, habits, living environment, and family practices.
Laundry habits are closely tied to cultural backgrounds, environmental contexts and family routines.
Participants found the washing machine instructions unclear, leading to confusion about the different options.
Personal habits like procrastination and irregular schedules influence laundry behaviours, affecting sustainability.
Personal factors contribute to sustainability issues, particularly when individuals misunderstand how to use washing machines efficiently.
Design Opportunities
How Might We
Drawing from three key insights, the study generated and presented a total of 17 "How Might We" statements. To evaluate these opportunities, an Evaluation Matrix was employed.
The following "How Might We" questions were selected to improve the user experience of using washing machines in the UK, positively influencing laundry practices. A key issue identified was that different types of washing machines lead individuals to lack the time and energy to learn how to use them properly, resulting in incorrect usage and often wasting energy.
HMW provide users with instructions regarding the use of differences between washing modes?
HMW use the design to avoid making the wrong choice to wash?
HMW make learning about the different washing mode more engaging?
HMW make the use process of public washing machines more convenient and sustainable?
HMW standardise the options and cycles across different washing machines?
Reflection
I learned that defining participants' questions more precisely is crucial, as general questions may overlook key insights. I assumed there would be differences in laundry practices between the two countries but failed to consider that participants might maintain their habits in the UK.
I found methods like auto-ethnography and AEIOU to be highly effective for research. These tools allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of participant behaviours, uncovering insights that interviews alone might have missed.
Throughout this research, I also realized that mistakes are a natural part of the process. They reveal limitations and gaps in understanding, and by addressing them, I can improve the reliability and depth of the findings.