1. 2nd Year: Achieving depth Depth in projects
Jacques Terken
TUE / ID - User-Centred Engineering
HG 2.40
Defining Depth
Example

2. Competency framework
/ Industrial Design DEPTH

3. The stage of depth is characterized by knowledge and skills building, including experiential knowledge as well as theoretical knowledge.
Students demonstrate depth in particular competency areas and in their skills as a designer: sensing/perceiving/doing and analyzing/abstracting, next to emotional and social skills.
Depth also shows in students’ ability to integrate, and their professional attitude and responsibility as a designer.
In their reflections students connect competency areas to one another and establish connections between competency areas, the overall competency of designing and overall growth.
/ Industrial Design DEPTH

4. They demonstrate understanding of this design process as a whole.
They have gained experience with the five activities within the “reflective transformative design process”, and with jumping from one activity to another while reflecting on the previous one.
They demonstrate understanding of this design process as a whole.
They have built an awareness of intelligent systems and demonstrate depth in interactive systems.
Their showcase communicates (the beginning of) a clear identity developing over time. (Are you more a “thinker” or a “do-er”? Look for patterns in your approach and in your development, and reflect upon it.)
/ Industrial Design DEPTH

5. Depth
/ Industrial Design DEPTH

6. Depth Link observations to theory, not just common sense and intuition
Explore and apply relevant theoretical frameworks/models
Get acquainted to and use professional terminology
Use multiple information sources (literature, experts, stakeholders, your own research)
Information gathering by applying scientifically sound research methods (“objective”, “replicable”)
Integrate competency areas into an adequate (coherent, effective and efficient) design process
Apply different approaches to design: intuitive/active (sensing/perceiving/doing) and rational (analyzing/abstracting), and integrate them into an adequate design process
/ Industrial Design DEPTH

7. Case study: Project “Flash poles”
Design brief: Design an environment that stimulates children to play and move, so that they remain healthy and learn to become socially active
Outcome: Flash poles -
A set of poles. Each pole has three ringed buttons with different colours controlling a light at the top of the pole. By turning a ring a timer function is activated. Children may create their own rules and games.
Artist’s impression
/ Industrial Design DEPTH

8. Design cycle Orientation Client Project formulation
Research questions concerning target group and constraints
Research (guided by research questions)
Desk research
Expert interviews
Orientation brainstorm
Result: detailed understanding of problem space and list of requirements
/ Industrial Design DEPTH

9. Idea generation, idea selection, concept development
Further research and expert interviews to support concept development
Initial user tests
Implementation of working prototype and final user test
/ Industrial Design DEPTH

10. Research questions Which movements/exercises are healthy for children?
Which interaction and feedback cause children to be stimulated to move?
Which exterior characteristics in the area of material, colour, shape and movement patterns stimulate children to move?
How can usability and ergonomics be integrated into the design and in which way?
What are the safety, economical and hygienic demands for such a product?
How can the product be integrated in the Vinex district Castellum in Houten?
/ Industrial Design DEPTH

11. Brain sketching, Brain writing game, Post-it
Idea generation
Brain sketching, Brain writing game, Post-it
Idea selection
screening all ideas in terms of “why did you like this when you were a kid?”  Requirements
/ Industrial Design DEPTH

12. Concepts Concepts evaluated with children Questionnaire
“Draw a futuristic playground and implement your greatest desires in it”
/ Industrial Design DEPTH

13. Concept development Amount, position Informed by requirements
Shape, size, diameter etc.
Functions
Technical issues
Informed by requirements
Supported by further desk research and expert meetings
Storyboards
/ Industrial Design DEPTH

14. Final concept
/ Industrial Design DEPTH

15. Validation/user research
See Movie
Observation (observation scheme!)
Interviews/self-report (rating scales)
/ Industrial Design DEPTH

16. Depth for Teamwork competency
Multi-disciplinary teamwork
Belbin test for team roles
Peer reviews
Team evaluation
/ Industrial Design DEPTH

17. Thanks for your attention
Questions?
/ Industrial Design DEPTH