Casket Display Cabinet Layout for Dense, Low-Confusion Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Funeral home casket selection rooms face challenges in displaying caskets in a way that maximizes product density without causing customer confusion or distress, particularly when caskets have decorative surface ornamentations like marquetry, which are not adequately represented in traditional displays.
Innovation Solution
A display system featuring a wall-mounted cabinet with an openable and closable door simulating a casket lid, including a 45° corner cut casket portion and an information module with a photo, cap panel, and fabric swatch, allowing customers to view and feel the casket features without opening the module, and featuring marquetry or other decorative surface ornamentation on the door.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple caskets are displayed in a traditional manner with open lids, then the number of product choices is maximized, but a 'sea of caskets' effect is created that is distressing and confusing to customers
Solution Approach 1:
The casket display is segmented into individual alcove structures, each housing a single casket. This segmentation prevents the overwhelming 'sea of caskets' effect while maintaining product variety. Each alcove acts as an independent viewing unit with its own lighting and signage, allowing customers to view multiple casket options without being overwhelmed by a crowded display.
Solution Approach 2:
Alcove structures serve as intermediaries between the casket product and the customer. These alcoves provide a controlled viewing environment with proper lighting, signage, and spatial separation, mediating the customer's interaction with the casket display and eliminating the distressing direct exposure to numerous open caskets.
2Quantity of substance
If alcove structures with two-tier casket racks are used, then the number of caskets displayed increases and clutter is reduced, but construction and renovation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The display system is divided into modular alcove structures that can be independently constructed and configured. Each alcove is a self-contained unit with standardized components including the two-tier casket rack, lighting, and signage. This modular segmentation allows for cost-effective construction and renovation, as alcoves can be added, removed, or modified without requiring complete reconstruction of the entire display system.
Solution Approach 2:
The two-tier casket rack incorporates a roll-out mechanism that allows the lower casket to be dynamically accessed by rolling it out from under the upper casket. This dynamic feature maximizes the use of vertical space in each alcove, allowing two caskets to be displayed in the footprint of one, thereby increasing the quantity of caskets displayed without proportionally increasing construction costs.
3Loss of information
If casket information modules require opening doors and sliding inserts to view samples, then detailed information can be provided, but the interaction process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The alcove structures are pre-configured with lighting, signage, and informational displays that provide casket feature information in advance. Cap panels with fabric swatches, photos, and feature descriptions are pre-positioned and illuminated within each alcove, allowing customers to view detailed information without requiring complex interactions such as opening doors or sliding inserts.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical interaction system of opening doors and sliding inserts is replaced with an optical and electronic information display system. Information is presented through illuminated signage, photos, and cap panels with fabric swatches that are directly visible within the alcove, eliminating the need for mechanical manipulation to access information.
Data Source
AI summary
A display for displaying the features of a casket which has a shell, a lid and an interior, comprises a wall, a cabinet mounted to the wall, an openable and closable door mounted to the cabinet, the door having the appearance of being at least a portion of the lid of the casket, and at least a portion of the shell of the casket positioned in the cabinet.