The Link Analysis of Christmas Dinner: A Festive Study in Controlled Chaos

Hi there,

As a human factors specialist, I should probably know better than to conduct a link analysis of making Christmas dinner at my parents. But, well, here we are…!!

I drew up a quick schematic of the farmhouse with its slightly odd layout (note the fridge by the back door – helpful for grabbing some drugs for the sheep in wellies, less helpful when you’re making Christmas dinner…), and picked 2 tasks – prepping the dinner, and serving the dinner. Looking at each task separately on paper, it almost seems doable.

Prepare the Dinner

1. Veg from fridge + peel
2. Turkey from fridge and prepare
3. Slow cooked items into the Rayburn
4. Other items onto the hob/in the oven

Lay the Table

1. Plates to warm in the Rayburn
2. Cutlery & glasses on the table
3. Add plates to table
4. Add food to the table in serving bowls

But when you overlay the tasks, it’s very clear to see the critical bottleneck being the single 60cm strip of counter space between the island and oven that every single task needs to flow through.

Prepare the Dinner

1. Veg from fridge + peel
2. Turkey from fridge and prepare
3. Slow cooked items into the Rayburn
4. Other items onto the hob/in the oven

Lay the Table

1. Plates to warm in the Rayburn
2. Cutlery & glasses on the table
3. Add plates to table
4. Add food to the table in serving bowls

This is what link analysis can give you – a really quick visual of why the space isn’t working well (and I haven’t even added the part where there will be three small, very excited children who have consumed their body weight in chocolate coins and are using the breakfast bar as a nerf shelter.)

However… despite this ergonomic nightmare that would make any of us HF nerds excited at the redesign opportunities, I genuinely wouldn’t change it for the world (well, I might move the fridge!).

This is a super old farmhouse. My parents worked with what they had. The kitchen wasn’t designed with link analysis or optimal workflow in mind, it evolved through decades of family meals, various animals being revived by the Rayburn, and that one time someone tried to see if a horse would fit (we don’t talk about that).

It’s home. And those of us lucky enough to spend our breaks with our loved ones, in perfectly designed kitchens or chaotic farmhouses, know exactly how special that is.

Lauren