How did Henry Dreyfuss use ergonomics in the design of Bell telephones?

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octagonal electric teakettle — Industrial design Octagonal electric teakettle of hammered silver, with cane-wicker handle, designed by Peter Behrens for AEG (Allgemeine Elektricitäts Gesellschaft), Berlin, c. 1909.

Henry Dreyfuss was a pioneer in industrial design who emphasized that products should prioritize utility and human comfort. He famously stated that when the contact point between a person and a product becomes a source of friction, the designer has failed.1

In his long-standing collaboration with Bell Laboratories, Dreyfuss applied these principles of human-factors engineering—now known as ergonomics—to telephone design. His approach involved studying the human body and its movements to ensure products were physically intuitive to use. A notable example of this application is the "Princess" phone, which he specifically designed to fit the hand of a teenage girl, demonstrating his commitment to tailoring form to the user's physical dimensions.1

Dreyfuss codified his research on human measurements in his influential book, The Measure of Man, ensuring that his designs were grounded in scientific data rather than mere aesthetic preference.1