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2004

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Beyond Desktop Usability: Web Site Usability And Its Evaluation., Stephen Ar Scrivener, Chao-Yang Yang, Andrée Woodcock Nov 2004

Beyond Desktop Usability: Web Site Usability And Its Evaluation., Stephen Ar Scrivener, Chao-Yang Yang, Andrée Woodcock

DRS Biennial Conference Series

An Internet questionnaire survey was conducted in order to explore whether web users’ and web designers’ conceptions of usability differ, and whether these conceptions are encompassed within conventional HCI usability. The primary results of the survey were that: 1 The users and designers had different viewpoints. For example, the users wanted web sites that provide diverse functions and information, whereas the designers thought web sites should be designed thematically. Similarly, the users valued information content over visual design, the designers vice versa. 2 Usability goals, such as stickiness (i.e., a web site’s ability to engender user attachment to it), attractiveness …

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Design For Uncertainty., Dirk Pons Nov 2004

Design For Uncertainty., Dirk Pons

DRS Biennial Conference Series

The development of engineering systems, whether those systems be products, plant or services, is a complex activity. The systems themselves are becoming more rather than less complex. Partly this arises from the need to optimise multiple system attributes including function, cost, resource usage, and style, among others. Also, most significant engineering projects involve diverse activities (including design, risk assessment, decision making, construction, and ongoing operation), and these invariably require teams of people with different skills. In turn that diversity requires effective management and leadership. Furthermore, the addition of electronic functionality and active control systems adds functionality but also introduces complex …

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The System Around The Product: Methodologies And Experiences Focusing On Material And Immaterial Aspects In Design Solutions., Nicola Morelli Nov 2004

The System Around The Product: Methodologies And Experiences Focusing On Material And Immaterial Aspects In Design Solutions., Nicola Morelli

DRS Biennial Conference Series

The design discipline has traditionally focused on products physical aspects, giving for granted that the context of services, infrastructures and technology will support the product life. A systemic perspective would revise such a focus, in order to project design competences over systemic aspects usually neglected by designers. This perspective shift is a challenge for designers, who have very efficient methods and tools to handle physical aspects of product design, but need to define an ‘operative paradigm’ to operate in a systemic context. An operative paradigm consists of a set of tools and methods to handle immaterial aspects such as time …

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Introducing Matik Service - Proposition For A New It Communication System Through An Approach In Kansei., Pierre Levy, Shin Young Park, Toshimasa Yamanaka Nov 2004

Introducing Matik Service - Proposition For A New It Communication System Through An Approach In Kansei., Pierre Levy, Shin Young Park, Toshimasa Yamanaka

DRS Biennial Conference Series

Even though IT is a very convenient tool for virtual communities to correspond, limitations are many and, for most of them, already known. This paper focuses on the issues related with tacit knowledge and subjective communication. The aim is to introduce an original software taking user’s subjectivity into account to optimize information flow. This research has been launch as a part of the 21st Century COE Program, sponsored by the MEXT, aiming at structuring Kansei as a science. Three laboratories with different specialties are working on this common program. As various knowledge is sharing between various people, a quick multiplication …

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The Abandoned Center: The Impact Of Complexity And Scale On Organizational Systems; Making The Case For A Design Approach., Harold Nelson, Erik Stolterman Nov 2004

The Abandoned Center: The Impact Of Complexity And Scale On Organizational Systems; Making The Case For A Design Approach., Harold Nelson, Erik Stolterman

DRS Biennial Conference Series

Businesses, governmental agencies and other large organizations face an intense challenge in today’s world. As these organizations become larger and more complex they often loose the focal point of their work—their center of gravity. Leaders, managers and administrators are unable to control the operations of the organization because specialization and diversification have created an abandoned center at the heart of their system. The challenge is to find a strategic approach for replacing the abandoned center with a whole center. In this paper we present three strategies for doing this, two of which are primarily based on reductionistic science and one …

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Applying Image Descriptors To The Legibility Assessment Of English Alphabets And Words., Dengchuan Cai, Manlai You, Chia-Fen Chi Nov 2004

Applying Image Descriptors To The Legibility Assessment Of English Alphabets And Words., Dengchuan Cai, Manlai You, Chia-Fen Chi

DRS Biennial Conference Series

Two studies were conducted to test the legibility of the English alphabets and words. The first study aims to test the impact of character width on legibility of English alphabets. The second study extended the legibility test of the English alphabet to the words. Sixteen university students participated in the two experiments to discriminate the English alphabets and words initially displayed on a PC screen at its minimum size and enlarged gradually until the participant could recognize it. The results showed that all main effects of type styles, character height, and character width were significant in the legibility test of …

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The Role Of Occupational Communities In The Transmission And Embedding Of Design Innovation: A Conceptual Framework., Philippa Ashton Nov 2004

The Role Of Occupational Communities In The Transmission And Embedding Of Design Innovation: A Conceptual Framework., Philippa Ashton

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper will explore social relationships as essential to the ability of organisations and the occupational communities within which they sit, to acquire and embed design innovation. The tacit qualities of design mean that social contact is required to enable the transmission and embedding of design innovation. The paper is focussed on selected literature that investigates this concept and commonly cited features and mechanisms for innovation and design knowledge transfer, are then built into a conceptual model applicable to design communities. The topic has particular relevance because of the growth of many publicly funded initiatives in the UK which attempt …

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The Use Of Prototypes In Pre-Development Activities., Chris Conley Nov 2004

The Use Of Prototypes In Pre-Development Activities., Chris Conley

DRS Biennial Conference Series

Prototypes are commonly used in design and development activities to help understand aspects of an emerging design before it is complete. The use of prototypes before development begins, however, is essentially non-existent. Why is this so? Are prototypes simply a method for those who design and develop tangible artefacts? In spite of their wide spread use and reports of beneficial impact, there is surprisingly little theory or principles of prototyping. This lack of prototyping theory and principles may be one reason prototypes are not considered for use in a wider variety of situations such as strategy development or product planning. …

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Methods For Experience Design: The Experience Design Framework., John Knight, Marie Jefsioutine Nov 2004

Methods For Experience Design: The Experience Design Framework., John Knight, Marie Jefsioutine

DRS Biennial Conference Series

User-Lab provides user centred design services and carries out academic research. This paper describes the development of the Experience Design Framework (EDF) resulting from the interaction between the Lab’s academic and commercial activities. The authors identified a range of negative attitudes to usability suggesting many practitioners did not perceive methods as relevant or useful. The EDF evolved out of an attempt to find methods that were more sympathetic to the concerns and needs of designers and business. The EDF broadens the focus of methods from usability to include accessibility, engagability and benefit. It is based on the idea that this …

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A Designer-Centred Method For Ergonomically-Informed In-Car Device Design., Eugene Chen, Andrée Woodcock, Stephen Ar Scrivener Nov 2004

A Designer-Centred Method For Ergonomically-Informed In-Car Device Design., Eugene Chen, Andrée Woodcock, Stephen Ar Scrivener

DRS Biennial Conference Series

A gap has been identified in evaluation methods that can be used by in-car device designers to capture the usability problems of representative end users, during concept design. Usability information has a vital role to play in design, yet all too frequently, this information is only gathered once concepts are stable and mature. At this stage ergonomics information and recommendations cannot have a major role in influencing the final design. Additionally many evaluation methods fail to evaluate in-car devices in their context of use, i.e. as a secondary task. An evaluation method is needed for concept design, that can be …

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User And Usability Requirements In Work Vehicle Cabin Design., Katarina Patt Nov 2004

User And Usability Requirements In Work Vehicle Cabin Design., Katarina Patt

DRS Biennial Conference Series

The objective of this study is to identify user and usability requirements in the user interface of work vehicle cabin design, especially in drill rigs and harvesters. User and usability requirements are inevitable in order to design the user interface of a work vehicle cabin that satisfies the end user so that smooth and efficient operating is possible. The theoretical part of the study takes an approach on user centred design and development, in which the concept of usability, user requirements, usability requirements and users of work vehicles are discussed. The empirical part of the study consists of eight qualitative …

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What Is Design Knowledge?, Ulrik Lie Nov 2004

What Is Design Knowledge?, Ulrik Lie

DRS Biennial Conference Series

How do designers move from believing, or assuming, to knowing in the course of action? In industrial design this move involves using theories under different ontology from different domains, and bridging them is an act that is epistemologically uncertain. The article discusses the nature of design knowledge, starting from a literature study and a model of the minimum knowledge needed for designing. Practising designers need to justify their assumptions in a large number of ways in order to arrive at a solution. If this amalgam of justificatory arguments is to be taken up by researchers in design methodology it poses …

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Aptitudes For Industrial Design., Paul Skaggs Nov 2004

Aptitudes For Industrial Design., Paul Skaggs

DRS Biennial Conference Series

All teachers have had students who seem to learn quickly and easily, have passion and excitement for learning, and are able to apply the principles they have been taught. Teachers have also had the opposite kind of students. What is it that allows one to excel while another struggles? My hypothesis is that the answer is aptitudes. What is an aptitude? According to Webster’s Dictionary an aptitude is ‘a capacity or innate ability, a talent for learning, or a special fitness.’ The field of industrial design appears interesting to many students who are trying to decide on a course of …

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Specialisation In The Profession Of Industrial Design In Finland., Anna Valtonen Nov 2004

Specialisation In The Profession Of Industrial Design In Finland., Anna Valtonen

DRS Biennial Conference Series

Industrial Design in Finland has changed a lot during the past ten years. Ten years ago most of the Finnish industrial designers worked in small or middle-sized design agencies. There was very little specialisation; one office could do everything from toys to trucks. There were very few designers employed directly by the industry. Today the biggest offices have a clear focus and even the design process has become a well-marketed commodity – only in order to make the use of strategic design as easy as possible for the customer. Today many industrial designers are employed as in-house designers in large …

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Mobile Wireless Technology: Research And Design Of Interfaces For Individuals With Cognitive Impairments., Vicki Haberman, Michael Jones, James Mueller Nov 2004

Mobile Wireless Technology: Research And Design Of Interfaces For Individuals With Cognitive Impairments., Vicki Haberman, Michael Jones, James Mueller

DRS Biennial Conference Series

Using mobile wireless technology as a platform, a compensatory aid is being developed to support community re-entry for persons with cognitive impairments resulting from acquired brain injuries (ABI). A human-centered design approach is combined with research in other disciplines including computer science and rehabilitation engineering to help resolve the central concern: the design of a user interface that is both understandable and operable by individuals with significant cognitive impairments. It is expected that much of what is learned through this project will also be beneficial in enhancing usability of mobile wireless technologies for users without disabilities.

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Object-Ive Re-Generation - Exploring How Developed Societies Perceive, Use, And Live With High-Tech Sustainable Materials, Objects,And Environments., Timothy Antoniuk Nov 2004

Object-Ive Re-Generation - Exploring How Developed Societies Perceive, Use, And Live With High-Tech Sustainable Materials, Objects,And Environments., Timothy Antoniuk

DRS Biennial Conference Series

After many decades of debate there is little doubt that most of the world’s ecological systems are in decline (Hawkins, et al 4). Ezio Manzini, Professor of Industrial Design and Director of CIRIS, has recently echoed these thoughts and concerns by stating that, for a sustainable society1 industrialized nations must to move towards a point where they are reliant on 10% of their current levels of resource consumption. In light of these realities, and the distinct possibility that no society, as a whole, will readily accept a 90% reduction in its footprint2 (especially without major and immediate changes in international …

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Design Methods For Cross-Cultural Collaborative Design Project., Kun-Pyo Lee Nov 2004

Design Methods For Cross-Cultural Collaborative Design Project., Kun-Pyo Lee

DRS Biennial Conference Series

As ‘globalization’ becomes hot buzzword, designers begin to deal with culture in serious manner than ever. However, in design field, major topics in cultural design have been limited mainly around identifying aesthetic stereotypes such as national shape or color preferences. Furthermore, major methods of cultural design were limited only in designer’s personal intuition or pencil and paper survey that requires time and effort. Considering these background and needs of the study, the study sets the objective as ‘to develop frameworks of design methods for cross-cultural collaborative design project.’ At first, culture was defined as one having structure with multi-layers including …

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Developing Models Of Designing To Enable Practice., Robert Young Nov 2004

Developing Models Of Designing To Enable Practice., Robert Young

DRS Biennial Conference Series

Reconsideration of the nature of design and the exploration of the future scope of design practice and its role within society is recurrent within academe. This has been represented recently by discussion about the role of design in the development of services rather than products. This paper describes an investigation of complex system design, which led to the derivation of a content-based model of design practice. It also describes the process of determining the utility of the model, based on the perceptions of design practitioners.

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Meeting Pluralist Demands With A Pluralist Response. The Omnium Project: Offering An Online Collaborative Design Response To An Increasingly Diversified, Interconnected And Pluralist World., Rick Bennett, Emma Dunphy Nov 2004

Meeting Pluralist Demands With A Pluralist Response. The Omnium Project: Offering An Online Collaborative Design Response To An Increasingly Diversified, Interconnected And Pluralist World., Rick Bennett, Emma Dunphy

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper examines the current relationship between contemporary design education and design practice within a constant state of multi-faceted change. It discusses changing demands for design education and practice, from a more global society. Within ‘a world of increased interconnectivity and multiplicity in ideas, cultures and practices’ (Warwicker 1999), it observes strategies suggested by theorists, educators and practitioners to accommodate social change within the two contexts. By seeking and describing the opinions of 549 Australian design students on the implementation of suggested strategies to accommodate change, the paper proceeds to describe an example of one online design education initiative that …

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Desire Of Design Knowledge. Notes On Cnpq Doctoral Education Program In Brazil., Maria Cecilia Loschiavo Des Santos Nov 2004

Desire Of Design Knowledge. Notes On Cnpq Doctoral Education Program In Brazil., Maria Cecilia Loschiavo Des Santos

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper seeks to provide an overview of the CNPq program and the challenges of creating doctoral education in design in our country, especially considering the short history of design education in Brazil, the strong need of design intervention and the desire for academic design knowledge.

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Designing On-Line Experiences: Beyond The Tyranny Of Usability., Linda Leung Nov 2004

Designing On-Line Experiences: Beyond The Tyranny Of Usability., Linda Leung

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper critically examines the widely accepted principles of usability in web design. In particular, it investigates the work of Jakob Nielsen, whose name has become synonymous with 'user-friendliness' as a result of popular applications of his 'ten usability heuristics' and argument that Flash is '99% bad'. It interrogates the assumptions embedded in his research, especially the notion that web consumption is predominantly a utilitarian activity. In an infant discipline such as web design, what are the implications for students and practitioners' creative output when such ideas become its theoretical canon? What are the foreseeable consequences when knowledge in the …

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A Study Of E-Book Design In Ergonomics Consideration., Yen-Yu Kang, Ming-How Kuo, Wen-Ko Chiou, Rungtai Lin Nov 2004

A Study Of E-Book Design In Ergonomics Consideration., Yen-Yu Kang, Ming-How Kuo, Wen-Ko Chiou, Rungtai Lin

DRS Biennial Conference Series

E” life, a new trend to influence people’s dairy-life since internet explored. No product or concept can be successful if it ignores the needs of its users and E-book are no exception. However, there has been a noticeable lack of real information about how ebooks are used. So, the objective of this study is established a series of surveys in an effort to help readers in using E-book. The overall aim of this project focus on the E-book of the future. With the changing of the trends, it stems from the fact that with the changing of the trends, the …

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The Difference Between In-House And Contracted Industrial Designers: An Australian Perspective., Erik Bohemia Nov 2004

The Difference Between In-House And Contracted Industrial Designers: An Australian Perspective., Erik Bohemia

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper discusses the results of a sub-section of a larger survey that measured the performance of employed and contracted industrial designers on 25 functional areas, as well as the importance of these functions to the organisations. The study found that perceptions varied between organisations that used in-house and those that contracted out industrial designers on various measures. For example, the contracted industrial designers significantly under-performed on seven functions compared to in-house industrial designers. They have not performed significantly better than in-house industrial designers on any function. The results of this research could be used to guide educational institutions in …

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Kansei Design Approach Based On Tangible Interaction Explicit Images Of 3d Objects And Evaluation Of Various Behaviors Related With Creation/Imagination By Analysis Of Brain Waves., Sunghee Lee Nov 2004

Kansei Design Approach Based On Tangible Interaction Explicit Images Of 3d Objects And Evaluation Of Various Behaviors Related With Creation/Imagination By Analysis Of Brain Waves., Sunghee Lee

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This study aims to provide an understanding of the Kansei evaluation model in human sciences and its practical use of design interaction. Kansei means subjective criteria work on the emotional aspects of events (Lee, 2000). In a previous study (Lee, 2001), we found several effects of Kansei for evaluation when people appreciate or create paintings or products. This paper describes how Kansei works on design approaches and the relationship it has with personality through brain waves. And finally shows some examples of practical Kansei design approach by tangible interaction. Kansei works differently by people, events, and environments and it brings …

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Increasing Competitiveness Through The Application Of Product Design As Knowledge Creation Management., Jurie Groenewald Nov 2004

Increasing Competitiveness Through The Application Of Product Design As Knowledge Creation Management., Jurie Groenewald

DRS Biennial Conference Series

The business environment in the new millennium is becoming more competitive because of the new globalised economy and the resultant increase in customer expectations. In response, companies are increasing their competitiveness through more efficient and effective Knowledge Management (KM). Increasing a company’s competitiveness there-fore means increasing its knowledge base through inter alia innovation. The problem is that most existing KM systems are dependent on ad hoc occurrences of innovation. In contrast, the design process can systematically produce innovation and can therefore be used as a Knowledge Creation Management tool. The process whereby New Product Design systematically uses existing knowledge and …

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The Effect Of Coating Features Of Products To Customers' Kansei Perception And Satisfaction., Inglen Lo, Ming-Chuen Chuang Nov 2004

The Effect Of Coating Features Of Products To Customers' Kansei Perception And Satisfaction., Inglen Lo, Ming-Chuen Chuang

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This study aims to integrate Kansei engineering and Kano’s model to investigate how the texture factor of plastic products affects not only users’ perceptions of Kansei, but also customers’ satisfaction. Accordingly, A morphological analysis which was conducted by a focus group of product designers concluded three main factors that govern the lacquer coating of plastic products. These are the type of lacquer, the gloss and the color. In each factor, various alternative features were identified. Then, 25 orthogonal representative samples were chosen to emulate hub devices. They were constructed and coated with lacquer, according to the assigned coating feature of …

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Innovation For Added Value: Experimentation With Aluminium In The Fine Crafts And Design., Suzette Worden Nov 2004

Innovation For Added Value: Experimentation With Aluminium In The Fine Crafts And Design., Suzette Worden

DRS Biennial Conference Series

Aluminium is often described as a 'material of accents'. Although an essential component of everyday life, it has never overwhelmed the design landscape but has been associated with multiple attributes including preciousness, versatility, economy, strength and lightness. In the 19th Century aluminium failed, unlike plastics, to pass itself off as a substitute material. When accepted on its own terms aluminium made its reputation based on its aesthetic neutrality. It is also popular for its lightness, malleability and ability to be recycled and ability to be transformed through printing and colouring. More recently aluminium has become part of aesthetic statements about …

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Craft Histories, Textile Futures: Emotional Affectivity And Design Hybridity In Quilt Design., Catherine Harper Nov 2004

Craft Histories, Textile Futures: Emotional Affectivity And Design Hybridity In Quilt Design., Catherine Harper

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper discusses how innovative textile design materials, processes, products and technologies might develop in ‘textile design futures’ by taking note of the emotional affectivity of traditional craft methods and aesthetics. Specifically, North American 19th Century quilts are activated as models for new poetic hybrids in conceptual and functional textile design. Archival material, contemporary design practice, and my own textile designs will be used as examples to support my proposals.

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Incorporating Research Into Master Of Industrial Design Projects And Theses: Six Students With Six Design Research Paths., Lorraine Justice Nov 2004

Incorporating Research Into Master Of Industrial Design Projects And Theses: Six Students With Six Design Research Paths., Lorraine Justice

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper serves the purpose of providing an overview of six graduate students projects and theses that incorporated traditional research methods throughout their learning process. An overview of the Master of Industrial Design Program is provided in order to understand how their studies are couched and regulated. The six students whose work is presented represent the varied paths and processes an individualized Master’s degree with design research takes. Following these project overviews are recommendations for those who are working to incorporate research methods into their design curriculum, and for those who want to prepare Masters students for doctoral studies in …

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Design Research In Sweden: Findings From A National Survey., Jan Bodin Nov 2004

Design Research In Sweden: Findings From A National Survey., Jan Bodin

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper presents findings from a national survey carried out in Sweden during the fall of 2003. At the time, no systematic study had been made in order to gather information about current design research among the Swedish academic society as a whole. A survey was sent out by e-mail in September 2003 via the newly formed network named Swedish Industrial Design Research and Education Agenda (SWIDREA). Due to the dynamic growth of the network additional responses will be added until the end of the year, which means that it is not possible to present the findings at present time. …

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