Papers

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Superteams: Combining Teams in Different Locations

Wilde, Douglass James • 2009

proceeding: Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED'09), Vol. 9
section: Human Behavior in Design
editor: Norell Bergendahl, M.; Grimheden, M.; Leifer, L.; Skogstad, P.; Lindemann, U.
pages: 1-4

abstract: Consider teams, constructed according to Jungian cognition theory, at various locations and that are themselves to be combined into larger "superteams". Combination is done by treating each component team as a single person having a cognitive mode pattern made up of the maximum scores for each mode. These equivalent "persons" are then combined for cognitive variety in the same way pairs of persons would be formed. It is shown how to do this so that superteams will have the high cognitive mode scores desired. In an example simulation, the superteam scores are almost as high as those obtainable when everyone is in the same location.

keywords: design teams, cognitive modes, teamology, cognitive variety, personality theory

Elaboration of innovative safety equipment concepts for infants

Nelson, Julien; Buisine, Stéphanie; Aoussat, Améziane; Duchamp, Robert • 2009

abstract: Designing safety systems for infants poses several methodological problems. One consequence of these is that existing systems fail to effectively prevent accidents in this specific population. In this paper, we present an approach to the design of such systems. Its main originality is that it made use of a task model to help guide team creativity in the elaboration of innovative product concepts. Secondly, in order to help select concepts that were most relevant to design, participatory simulations were carried out with caregivers, relying on the use of external representations of task situations and product concepts to help these future users anticipate how they might use or reject systems based upon these concepts. Having described the issues underlying the design of innovative, acceptable safety systems for infants as well as the method used to design such systems, we then present some results obtained in the design of personal protection equipment to prevent drowning in infants.

keywords: product concept design, accident prevention, infants

Cultural Influences on Design Processes - an Empirical Study

Gautam, Vivek; Blessing, Lucienne • 2009

abstract: Product development increasingly involves designers with different cultural backgrounds. This paper describes an investigation into the effects of these different backgrounds on the design process. The objective of the research is to provide guidelines for designers working in intercultural design processes. An empirical study is carried out under participation of designers drawn from industrial practice in Germany, India and China. They are observed while solving a given design problem in a laboratory setting. The recorded design processes are analyzed with a focus on cultural characteristics, which were derived from literature. Results of the empirical study are presented. The paper focuses on the following design activities: analyzing problem and requirements, working on sub-functions and deriving selection criteria. The results indicate that the design processes are different and that these differences can be linked to the characteristics of culture. A preview of further work is given.

keywords: Designer, culture, intercultural design process

A Generic Tool to Study Human Design Activities

Kan, Jeff Wai Tak; Gero, John S • 2009

abstract: This paper reports on the results of using an ontologically-based generic approach to carry out protocol analyses of designers. The Function-Behavior-Structure (FBS) ontology has been proposed as the basis of a generic coding scheme that transcends the domain of application, the task being studied, and the number of designers being studied. This paper presents results of testing this generic coding scheme in both in vitro and in situ conditions. After coding, these protocols was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Markov chains and the results compared. This work demonstrates the applicability of using the FBS coding scheme as a foundation for studying human design activities.

keywords: protocol coding, generic coding, protocol analysis, design ontology

Suggestion Systems for Engineering Designers - a Case Study

Detterfelt, Jonas; Lovén, Eva; Lakemeond, Nicolette • 2009

abstract: Creativity is an important characteristic of engineering design and one can learn much about creative methods for solving design problems in the literature. In reality, however, the spontaneous creativity of engineers also leads to new innovative ideas that are not directly applicable in current projects. Therefore, it is important that companies have the ability to extract and use these ideas to ensure long-term innovativeness. A suggestion system, the most classic of which is the suggestion box, is an approved general way that can enable this transfer of employee creativity; however, the literature provides little information about the applicability of suggestion systems in organizations for engineering design. This paper investigates the applicability and potential of suggestion systems to enable the critical transfer of creativity from engineering designers to the company. This research, performed as a case study, shows that a suggestion system, along with strong leadership, can help transfer creativity of the engineers to future products.

keywords: Suggestion system, creativity, idea extraction, idea landing, management

Dealing with Uncertainty in Design Practice: Issues for Designer-Centered Methodology

Daalhuizen, Jaap; Badke-Schaub, Petra; Batill, Stephen Marc • 2009

abstract: Design is at the core of successful innovation. While working on innovation projects designers have to deal with the uncertainty associated with complexity, multi-disciplinarity and outcomes that in the early phases are not - and are not supposed to be - foreseeable. Design methodology aims to support the designer by providing structure and thus reducing uncertainty. However, design methodology often does not provide methodological support that is customized to the individual?s needs and wishes. Furthermore, the social context in which the innovation project takes place is not an explicit issue for many design methods although, especially in project teams, one of the major problems is the development of shared understanding in multidisciplinary communication. In this paper we present the results of a study which addressed the way design practitioners deal with uncertainty in non-routine situations and their strategies for coping with non-routine situations. We define non-routine situations as situations of uncertainty in which the designer does not obviously know how to proceed.

keywords: designer-centered methodology, design practice, uncertainty, innovation

From Text to Design Solution: Inspiring Design Ideas with Texts

Goldschmidt, Gabriela; Litan Sever, Anat • 2009

abstract: A design is said to be as successful as the leading idea that drives it is. Mature designers make frequent use of 'stock ideas' accumulated over time and stored in memory and personal archives. Novices do not yet possess developed collections of sources that can be tapped. Previous research proved that the intentional exposure of novice designers to visual stimuli can provide cues that act as sources and inspire the generation of design concepts. In this study it was hypothesized that stimuli in the form of texts presented to student-designers along with a design problem, would improve the quality of their design solution. In an experiment participants solved two short design problems under three conditions: without stimuli, with stimuli in the form of texts related to the problem at hand, and with texts unrelated to the problem. Outcomes were graded by naïve judges for originality and practicality. Results show that both types of text yield designs that receive higher originality grades compared to the no-stimulus condition, but practicality is not affected. We propose that textual stimuli may be useful as part of the design process and as a pedagogical tool in the design studio.

keywords: idea, originality, practicality, stimulus, text

Checklists as Tools for Reflective Practice for Designers

Geis, Christian; Birkhofer, Herbert • 2009

abstract: Methodical designing nowadays is an important topic when developing competitive and successful products. But to work methodically means to overcome many obstacles and problems. With reflective practice one is able to surpass these problems. A critical analysis of product, process and the design context will reveal important measures which can be raised and implemented to methodically improve designing. This paper presents a tool developed for exactly this purpose: a checklist to support designer reflection of methodical procedure. First, the term reflection is defined and second, the checklists as tools are described. After a short digression on ?methodical competence of designers?, structure and contents of an appropriate checklist are described and a short outlook on the usage of the checklist in a professional environment is given.

keywords: design, methods, reflection, checklist, competence

First Components to Support, to Make Durable and to Control Creative Inputs through Materials and Processes

Béranger, Anne; Bassereau, Jean-François; Aoussat, Améziane • 2009

abstract: Creativity in design allows ideas renewal and thus takes part in the dynamism and the longevity of a company. However, the creative individual draws his inspiration in various sources which in our case are technical materials and processes. Our study is an applied research focused on creativity through materials and technical processes. It takes place in a specific context, a French traditional creative family company in the luxury world called Hermès. Here, materials and now-how are important and designers with different professional profiles mix with. Probably because of their initial training, their approaches and needs towards materials and processes can be different from a designer to another. Materials could be an inspiration source for designers. Because materials concur to give a personality to product, many designers have recourse to material collections which they are private or public, physical or virtual, academic or commercial. The aim of this article is to show what could be the contribution of a material and process space to support and make durable creativity in a creative and multi-field firm.

keywords: creativity, creation vs conception, materials and processes, material collection

Designing an Entrepreneurial Mindset in Engineering and Management

Ekman, Sten; Ekman, Annalill • 2009

abstract: The purpose of this paper is to discuss how to design entrepreneurial mindsets in different academic cultures and its motives with focus on engineering and management education. Empirical data are collected from, Sweden, Ukraine and India in a ten-year period from 1998-2009. The theoretical framework is based on an integrated view of innovation, design and entrepreneurship sciences. Our findings are that it is quite possible to open up more traditional or narrow mindsets of engineering and management to more broad and multi-scientific approaches, relevant in our complex world. An entrepreneurial mindset has close links to innovation and is characterized by relentless pursuit of opportunities, thinking different, intuitive and executive, is risk-taking and eliminates pre-existing routines. It focuses more on technology and business creation than on state-of-the art technology and business administration. In this approach the culture and climate in an organization and the eco-system around the universities also can be changed to high-light creativity, design and innovation. We have learnt that a strong, open and visionary leadership is necessary in such a challenging work.

keywords: Design Inspired Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Mindsets, Multi-scientific approach.

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