Computer aided ergonomic and functional drawing table design for universities (The case of Bartin University)

The results of the literature review on the drawing tables used in universities in Turkey revealed that ergonomic and functional features are not sufficiently taken into account. The purpose of this study is to identify musculoskeletal disorder risks that students in Bartin University face and to resolve these problems with innovative solutions during the design phase. In this scope, first of all the structural features of the existing drawing tables were examined. The students' opinions about drawing tables were determined by face-to-face survey method considering the features such as "use, comfort and functionality". Based on the results of the questionnaire, taking the engineering and the design necessities into account, most important technical and ergonomic problems were identified. Later, based on the obtained user requests, ergonomic and functional criteria, the most appropriate furniture design were carried out by using AutoCAD® software in 3-dimension mode. The required material and construction type for the production of the prototype of the suitable drawing table design were determined. In order to be able to carry out the specified design, the drawing table prototype were produced by properly resized and combining composite, metal, plastic, glass, wood materials etc. It is also aimed to contribute to the literature in the field by composing awareness in terms of ergonomic and functional drawing table design and production for the universities in Turkey.