As part of a group task with Aoife, we created a survey that could be sent out around the class and also to friends and family. I am very thankful for the help that Aoife gave me and it was a great exercise as I helped her with her final year project which is an app focused on people with Parkinson’s.
We wanted to make sure that the questions we asked in the survey were relevant and also helpful for the direction of the product. We used ChatGPT to help use create questions that would ask people about their experience assembling flat-packed furniture, whether or not they find it difficult or enjoyable, what they do when they get stuck, and whether a digital intervention is something that they would be interested in. ****
Below is the results from the survey. I found these results very useful
| Timestamp | Have you ever assembled flat-pack furniture? | How difficult do you usually find assembling flat-pack furniture? | Have you ever struggled to understand paper assembly instructions? | What do you find most difficult when assembling furniture? | What do you usually do when you get stuck? | Have you ever made a mistake because the instructions were unclear? | Would you find it useful to scan a QR code on the furniture packaging to access digital instructions? | Which digital instruction features would be most useful to you? | If you got stuck, which type of help would you prefer? | Would you use an app that combines QR-code instructions with the option to get help from a person? | Would you be willing to pay a small fee for live help with a difficult assembly step? | What one feature would make this app most useful to you? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13/10/2026 12:09:18 | Yes, several times | Quite easy | Sometimes | Nothing in particular | Re-read the instructions | No | Probably | Step-by-step videos | A video showing the correct step | Probably | No | Videos or 3D demonstrations |
| 13/10/2026 12:09:59 | Yes, several times | Neither easy nor difficult | Sometimes | Fixing mistakes | Re-read the instructions | Yes | Probably | Clearer pictures of parts | A video showing the correct step | Not sure | Only if the help came from a qualified professional | Help from a real person |
| 13/10/2026 12:10:19 | Yes, several times | Quite easy | Sometimes | Knowing which order to follow | Ask a friend or family member | Yes | Definitely | A way to track progress | A video showing the correct step | Definitely | Only if the help came from a qualified professional | Clear instructions |
| 13/10/2026 12:27:09 | Yes, once or twice | Neither easy nor difficult | Sometimes | Identifying the correct parts and screws | Re-read the instructions | Yes | Probably | A way to track progress | Chatting with a person | Definitely | Only if the help came from a qualified professional | Clear instructions |
| 13/10/2026 12:31:51 | Yes, once or twice | Quite difficult | Often | Understanding the diagrams | Keep trying until I work it out | Yes | Definitely | Clearer pictures of parts | A video showing the correct step | Probably | No | Videos or 3D demonstrations |
| 13/10/2026 12:37:49 | Yes, several times | Very difficult | Sometimes | Identifying the correct parts and screws | Search for a video online | Not sure | Definitely | Step-by-step videos | Chatting with a person | Not sure | No | Videos or 3D demonstrations |
| 13/10/2026 12:46:06 | Yes, several times | Very easy | Sometimes | Identifying the correct parts and screws | Re-read the instructions | Yes | Not sure | Step-by-step videos | A video showing the correct step | Probably | Yes | Clear instructions |
| 13/10/2026 13:26:52 | Yes, once or twice | Quite difficult | Sometimes | Knowing which order to follow | Search for a video online | Yes | Definitely | Interactive 3D models | A video showing the correct step | Definitely | No | Videos or 3D demonstrations |
| 13/10/2026 13:57:44 | No, never | Not applicable | Not applicable | Nothing in particular | Not applicable | Not applicable | Probably not | Step-by-step videos | I would prefer to work it out myself | Not sure | No | Clear instructions |
After analysing these results I have been able to see some key patterns of what most people think when it comes to assembling flat-packed furniture. This was a really useful and interesting exercise to undertake, widening my understanding of what people around me actually think about flat-pack assembly, and that is something I am excited for what I can do to fill this gap.
<aside> 🧠