User-Centered Approach for Co-designing a Waterless Toilet

Abstract

The scarcity of water is one of the biggest public issues. Community engagement regarding a user approach can provide insights into how to solve the public problems and improve a community. This article describes the early process of co-designing a waterless toilet to respond to the water scarcity problem in the Republic of Korea. It presents how a collaborate team of design researchers, water scientists, and engineers explored the possibility of a waterless toilet. This was achieved by conducting focus group interviews with a user engagement approach to understand what users really want and how to improve the experience of toilet. The results led to develop experiential service design project to raise awareness of water scarcity, and new technology to remove the odor of a toilet. They are currently attempting to meet the needs of community users to improve the water scarcity problem.