Ergonomics makes me think of office desks and factory workstations, even though I know it’s the study of designing for human needs in a larger sense. Karen Piegorsch connected the concept with an area I didn’t expect – traditional artisans.
Backstrap weavers in Guatemala and other locations kneel and rock back and forth to create cloth. Karen and Synergo Arts designed a bench for the weavers to sit on to make the process easier and more comfortable.
This happened partly because Karen approached from a different point of view. She involved the weavers. One of the women she talked to said how Karen was the first visitor who had asked “How do you feel?” not just “How do you accomplish the weaving?”
An interesting point involving other possible connections is that the bench is not considered an isolated solution. An example she gives is that they need to ask about eyesight. If the weavers can only see their weaving close-up they will keep bending forward and won’t use the bench, making it seem to be ineffective.
I was introduced to this effort by an issue of FiberArts magazine and then found this interview on YouTube.
