Abstract

Background: The university classroom functions as a high-risk work environment characterized by prolonged static sitting, leading to a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among students. This issue is exacerbated by the mismatch between static, one-size-fits-all furniture and the ergonomic needs of modern laptop use, which also negatively impacts academic focus. 
Objective: This study aims to demonstrate a systematic framework for identifying and prioritizing student needs for a new ergonomic desk design. 
Methods: This study employs the Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) methodology. A (hypothetical) cross-sectional survey was designed to gather quantitative data from (hypothetical) 250 students (N=250). Participants (hypothetically) rated the 'Importance' and 'Performance' (satisfaction) of various desk attributes. Mean scores for each attribute were plotted on a two-dimensional, four-quadrant IPA grid to identify strategic priorities. 
Results: The (hypothetical) analysis identified four critical attributes in Quadrant I ("Concentrate Here"): "Height Adjustability," "Postural Support (for laptop use)," "Stability," and "Portability." These attributes were deemed highly important by students but had very low performance scores, indicating a significant failure of current furniture. Conversely, "Aesthetic Finish" was found in Quadrant IV ("Possible Overkill"), suggesting a potential misallocation of resources. 
Conclusion: This paper presents a replicable IPA framework that successfully identifies critical performance gaps in university furniture. The findings provide a data-driven directive that the next generation of student desks must be dynamic, adjustable, and portable to support student well-being and academic performance. This study serves as a methodological demonstration using hypothetical data.