A guided approach to conceptual design in the information design process

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila Pontis
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Information Design ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
Intended Audience ◽  
Subject Areas

Conceptual design is often overlooked and underestimated by information designers who tend to be more focused on implementation and concerned with aesthetic qualities. Consequently, there is a lack of thorough thinking and understanding during the conceptual part of the design process that results in a recurrent development of unintelligible diagrams in information design practice. Bringing awareness to conceptual design can help designers realize its function and importance for the development of effective diagrams. To address this situation, this paper proposes the adoption in professional practice of a conceptual design tool with a guided approach, e.g., MapCI Cards. Working with this approach may aid information designers in the preparation of diagrams by guiding conceptual design tasks: understanding the diagram purpose and intended-audience, analyzing and simplifying information sources, identifying subject areas and information types, and defining their organization into a hierarchical structure. We describe this type of approach and discuss its usefulness for information designers, explaining how it could support their conceptual design decision-making. Then, we present scenarios in which working with the approach could be beneficial, followed by recommendations to use this approach in professional practice.

Improving information design practice

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila Pontis ◽  
Michael Babwahsingh
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Effective Communication ◽  
Information Design ◽  
Initial Problem ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
Design Activities ◽  
Design Solutions ◽  
Tools And Techniques

As novel tools and techniques for visualizing information grow popular, many information design solutions are increasingly demonstrating high technical and visual sophistication, but often at the expense of thoughtful, effective communication. This recurring phenomenon highlights an overemphasis on the production of design outputs and failure to understand the initial problem, content, and audience early in a project. We assert that ineffective information design results primarily from a lack of rigor in the conceptual stage of the design process, when critical decisions determine the end result. We propose 23 methods information designers may adopt to reinforce their conceptual design activities.

scholarly journals Integrating Value Considerations in the Decision Making for the Design of Biorefineries

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 2927-2955
Author(s):  
Mar Palmeros Parada ◽  
Lotte Asveld ◽  
Patricia Osseweijer ◽  
John Alexander Posada
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Complex Systems ◽  
Research And Development ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Value Sensitive Design ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Design Alternatives ◽  
Biobased Production

AbstractBiobased production has been promoted as a sustainable alternative to fossil resources. However, controversies over its impact on sustainability highlight societal concerns, value tensions and uncertainties that have not been taken into account during its development. In this work, the consideration of stakeholders’ values in a biorefinery design project is investigated. Value sensitive design (VSD) is a promising approach to the design of technologies with consideration of stakeholders’ values, however, it is not directly applicable for complex systems like biorefineries. Therefore, some elements of VSD, such as the identification of relevant values and their connection to a technology’s features, are brought into biorefinery design practice. Midstream modulation (MM), an approach to promoting the consideration of societal aspects during research and development activities, is applied to promote reflection and value considerations during the design decision making. As result, it is shown that MM interventions during the design process led to new design alternatives in support of stakeholders' values, and allowed to recognize and respond to emerging value tensions within the scope of the project. In this way, the present work shows a novel approach for the technical investigation of VSD, especially for biorefineries. Also, based on this work it is argued that not only reflection, but also flexibility and openness are important for the application of VSD in the context of biorefinery design.

An Advisory Conceptual Design Tool for Mechanical Transmission Systems

1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. P. Huang ◽  
F. W. Liou ◽  
J. J. Malyamakkil ◽  
W. F. Lu
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Expert System ◽  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Mechanical Transmission ◽  
Transmission Systems ◽  
Knowledge Based System ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Packaging Machine

Abstract This paper presents an advisory conceptual design tool for mechanical transmission systems. Space consideration was taken into account during the design process. A prototype function tree was built in the form of knowledge-based system to transfer a designer’s idea into a set of mechanical components. An advisory expert system was also developed to help a designer in decision making. As an example, a packaging machine is designed using the developed system.

scholarly journals Creation of a Framework of Design Tool Characteristics to Support Evaluation and Selection of Visualisation Tools

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1115-1124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenwen Zhang ◽  
Charlie Ranscombe ◽  
David Radcliffe ◽  
Simon Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Design Tools ◽  
Tool Development ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Comprehensive Framework ◽  
Support Evaluation ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractIn Industrial Design, new design visualisation tools are emerging offering significant benefits to the designers. However, studies show alongside some benefits, new tools can also inhibit designers' creativity or cause time inefficiency if used in the wrong context. Thus, understanding which tools to use and when during the design process is increasingly necessary to ensure the best use of resources in design practice. Existing research on understanding the performance of design tools and the resulting frameworks for comparing tools are either specific to certain tools or highly generalised making evaluation across different design tools challenging. As such, this paper reports the creation of a more comprehensive framework of design tool characteristics to facilitate a better understanding of design tools and their uses. Demonstration of application of the framework is also given in the form of a case study on the use of Digital Sketching and its comparable tools with four practising designers. In conclusion, we show how the Design Tool Characteristics (DTCs) framework is an effective way to understand design tools, with further implications for design tool development.

scholarly journals Simulator with Embedded Intelligence Focused on the Design Process

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 619-630
Author(s):  
I. Arango ◽  
A. Herrera
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Simulation ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Training Period ◽  
Simulation Tool ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
Mechatronic Design ◽  
Academic Courses ◽  
Embedded Intelligence

Mechatronic design practice was conceived as various successive steps involving expertise. However, employers expect recently graduated engineers to start working with the shortest training period. This paper reports a research that developed a simulation tool that introduces modifications and additions to the regular methods of dynamic simulation, integrating in it several of the steps of the systematic mechanic design. The design tool encompasses for each element or object of the simulator seven new features that in an intelligent way gives the student a little design practical expertise. The connection between elements follows the method by wires and the window of assembly includes a workspace where the 3D depiction of all elements is seen and animated according to the values of the variables. The concept was prototyped and now all technological components are available to start the development of a product. This concept, due to the volume of information that it uses, instead of being attractive to cover all fields of knowledge is valuable to adapt to specific fields as academic courses. Potential users evaluated the attractiveness of the concept through a work section, giving good indicators.

The Creation of Assembly Geometry From Functional Definitions

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doug Brady ◽  
Neal P. Juster
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Cad Systems ◽  
Complex Product ◽  
Assembly Design ◽  
Embodiment Design ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Function Structures

Abstract Modern CAD systems are able to represent the geometry of engineering components proficiently. This aids the later stages of the design process but does not help during conceptual design. This paper outlines a suite of programs known as the Conceptual Assembly Design Tool which allows designers to create outline assembly geometry from function structures, thus providing a potential bridge between conceptual and embodiment design. The paper includes a case study showing how the system may be used during the resign of a moderately complex product.

scholarly journals Emotionally Sustainable Design Toolbox: A Card-Based Design Tool for Designing Products with an Extended Life Based on the User’s Emotional Needs

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 10152
Author(s):  
Jianfeng Wu ◽  
Chuchu Jin ◽  
Lekai Zhang ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
Ming Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Product Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Sustainable Design ◽  
New Products ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Emotional Attachment ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
Emotional Needs ◽  
Product Lifecycle

Emotionally sustainable design helps users to develop an emotional attachment to a product and motivates them to continue using it, thus extending the product lifecycle, minimizing the need for new products and achieving product sustainability. However, the existing relevant design principles are still very scattered, and they could not effectively guide the emotionally sustainable design practice in a systematic way. We proposed an emotionally sustainable design (ESD) toolbox for product design based on the literature review and expert argumentation. The toolbox consists of seven themes and 20 principles under the three levels of emotional design. The usability of the ESD toolbox was then validated through design practice for the teapot product. The result shows that the ESD toolbox improved the efficiency of the sustainable design process and was helpful to the product’s sustainability.

Understanding the impact of supporting conceptual information design

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila Pontis
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Information Design ◽  
Conceptual Information ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Support Tools ◽  
Structure Flexibility ◽  
Adverse Influence ◽  
Internal And External Factors ◽  
The Impact

Abstract This article argues that supporting conceptual information design should be a priority as it will better equip design practitioners for their jobs. Findings from a longitudinal evaluation of a tool – MapCI Cards – using multiple methods to assess the impact of supporting conceptual design in professional practice are reported here. Internal and external factors emerged as having an adverse influence on information designers’ responses to conceptual design. Increased conceptual design awareness and more confident decisions resulted from working with a support tool. Structure, flexibility, and externalizations are indicated as possible ways to effectively support conceptual information design. The article ends with recommendations for future support tools.

scholarly journals Theoretical Framework of Computer Cognition for Use in Urban Design Process

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Marko Lazić ◽  
Ana Perišić ◽  
Predrag Šidjanin
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Science ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Urban Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Computer Technology ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Urban Systems ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
The Relationship

AIM: The purpose of this paper is to highlight a new paradigm in the urban design practice, assigning a possible role to computer cognition in architecture.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Computer cognition is a synthesis of theories of cognitive science and the latest artificial intelligence-based computer principles. First, the development of computer systems used in architecture and urban design has been examined with the emphasis that one of the most important representations of urban systems is based on the cognitive aspect of urban environment.RESULTS: Thus, the relationship between urban environment and cognitive science and computer science has been established. A framework of the implementation of computer technology into the urban design process has also been created.CONCLUSIONS: Through the research framework of the new urban design tool – named DesignTool – the paper presents the initial theoretical postulates concerning the urban environment from the aspect of cognitive perception and their genesis.

Queer-Sensible Designing

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Silas DENZ ◽  
Wouter EGGINK
Keyword(s):  
Queer Theory ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Industrial Design ◽  
Gender Norms ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
Gender Scripts ◽  
Femininity And Masculinity ◽  
Design Workshop ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Design Style

Conventional design practices regard gender as a given precondition defined by femininity and masculinity. To shift these strategies to include non-heteronormative or queer users, queer theory served as a source of inspiration as well as user sensitive design techniques. As a result, a co-design workshop was developed and executed. Participants supported claims that gender scripts in designed artefacts uphold gender norms. The practice did not specify a definition of a queer design style. However, the co-design practice opened up the design process to non-normative gender scripts by unmasking binary gender dichotomies in industrial design.

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