Mediating Cognitive Transformation with VR 3D Sketching during Conceptual Architectural Design Process

Communications for information synchronization during the conceptual design phase require designers to employ more intuitive digital design tools. This paper presents findings of a feasibility study for using VR 3D sketching interface in order to replace current non-intuitive CAD tools. We used a sequential mixed method research methodology including a qualitative case study and a cognitive-based quantitative protocol analysis experiment. Foremost, the case study research was conducted in order to understand how novice designers make intuitive decisions. The case study documented the failure of conventional sketching methods in articulating complicated design ideas and shortcomings of current CAD tools in intuitive ideation. The case study’s findings then became the theoretical foundations for testing the feasibility of using VR 3D sketching interface during design. The latter phase of study evaluated the designers’ spatial cognition and collaboration at six different levels: “physical-actions”, “perceptualac ons”, “functional-actions”, “conceptual-actions”, “cognitive synchronizations”, and “gestures”. The results and confirmed hypotheses showed that the utilized tangible 3D sketching interface improved novice designers’ cognitive and collaborative design activities. In summary this paper presents the influences of current external representation tools on designers’ cognition and collaboration as well as providing the necessary theoretical foundations for implementing VR 3D sketching interface. It contributes towards transforming conceptual architectural design phase from analogue to digital by proposing a new VR design interface. The paper proposes this transformation to fill in the existing gap between analogue conceptual architectural design process and remaining digital engineering parts of building design process hence expediting digital design process

An explorative study towards using VR sketching as a tool for ideation and prototyping in product design

The advancements in the field of VR allow designers to use VR as a technology for sketching ideas in a virtual space. In this paper, Gravity Sketch (a VR sketching software) is used as an ideation sketching tool in the process of product styling. The goal of this research is to examine the advantages and points-of-pain when using virtual reality tools in the process of product styling. 29 Master students used the VR sketching tool in their design process and all of them had feedback and insights on the tool

Paper-based Mixed Reality Sketch Augmentation as a Conceptual Design Support Tool

This undergraduate student paper explores usage of mixed reality techniques as support tools for conceptual design. A proof-of-concept was developed to illustrate this principle. Using this as an example, a small group of designers was interviewed to determine their views on the use of this technology. These interviews are the main contribution of this paper. Several interesting applications were determined, suggesting possible usage in a wide range of domains. Paper-based sketching, mixed reality and sketch augmentation techniques complement each other, and the combination results in a highly intuitive interface

Ideation as an intellectual information acquisition and use context: Investigating game designers’ information-based ideation behavior

Human Information Behavior (HIB) research commonly examines behavior in the context of why information is acquired and how it will be used, but usually at the level of the work or everyday-life tasks the information will support. HIB has not been examined in detail at the broader contextual level of intellectual purpose (i.e. the higher-order conceptual tasks the information was acquired to support). Examination at this level can enhance holistic understanding of HIB as a ‘means to an intellectual end’ and inform the design of digital information environments that support information interaction for specific intellectual purposes. We investigate information-based ideation (IBI) as a specific intellectual information acquisition and use context by conducting Critical Incident-style interviews with ten game designers, focusing on how they interact with information to generate and develop creative design ideas. Our findings give rise to a framework of their ideation-focused HIB, which systems designers can leverage to reason about how best to support certain behaviors to drive design ideation. These findings emphasize the importance of intellectual purpose as a driver for acquisition and desired outcome of use

Hands on Design : Comparing the use of sketching and gesturing in collaborative designing

This study explored the remaining potential of gestures as creative tools for collaborative designing. We compared novice designers' use of sketching against gesturing in early ideation and rough visualisation. To preserve the kinesic character of gestures, we developed a detailed video analysis method, which revealed that the majority of sketching and gesturing was complementary to speech. Sketching was important for defining complicated structures, while gesturing was frequently used for all aspects of designing. Moreover, we identified that the level of collaboration – the level and immediacy of sharing one's ideas for others – is an important factor. As an underrepresented phenomenon in the design literature, the meaning of collaboration unearthed here leads to unmistakable conclusions regarding the nature of gesturing, to the process of learning design, and to the use of design tools. Most notably, gesturing offers a complementary creative dimension - kinaesthetic thinking - which invites us to communicate and share instantaneously.Peer reviewe

GeoCoin:supporting ideation and collaborative design with location-based smart contracts

Design and HCI researchers are increasingly working with complex digital infrastructures, such as cryptocurrencies, distributed ledgers and smart contracts. These technologies will have a profound impact on digital systems and their audiences. However, given their emergent nature and technical complexity, involving non-specialists in the design of applications that employ these technologies is challenging. In this paper, we discuss these challenges and present GeoCoin, a location-based platform for embodied learning and speculative ideating with smart contracts. In collaborative workshops with GeoCoin, participants engaged with location-based smart contracts, using the platform to explore digital `debit' and `credit' zones in the city. These exercises led to the design of diverse distributed-ledger applications, for time-limited financial unions, participatory budgeting, and humanitarian aid. These results contribute to the HCI community by demonstrating how an experiential prototype can support understanding of the complexities behind new digital infrastructures and facilitate participant engagement in ideation and design processes

Supporting shape reinterpretation with eye tracking

It has been argued that reinterpretation is an essential process in design generation and idea exploration. However, computational design tools, such as computer-aided design systems, offer poor support for shape reinterpretation, and as such are not well suited to ideation in conceptual design. One of the key difficulties in implementing computational systems that support shape reinterpretation is the issue of interface – how can a user intuitively guide a system with respect to their interpretation of a designed shape? In this paper, a software prototype is presented that uses an eye tracking interface to support reinterpretation of shapes according to recognised subshapes. The prototype is based on eye tracking studies, and uses gaze data and user input to restructure designed shapes so that they afford manipulation according to users’ interpretations

Design Ideation: The Conceptual Sketch in a Digital Design Culture

Design ideation, or the generating and developing of design ideas is central to designing in both education and practice. But what is the impact of digital technology on conceptual tools, notably the traditional pen and paper sketch? Initial research, in the Introduction highlights how freehand drawing is under pressure from digital technology both in design schools and industry yet educators and practitioners alike seem uncertain how best to deal with the digital challenge. The Literature review, in which the investigation is likened to a sprawling rhizome, covers both practical and philosophical concerns about conceptual tools thereby extending the notion of sketching beyond pen and paper, to what is called sketcherly ways of designing. To find out how to capture designers' use of conceptual tools, the spectrum of Design methodology was explored in which the case study method combined with protocol study emerged as the research strategy to be tested in a Pilot study. The pilot outcome set the scene for a protocol study with first-year design students which, through a series of Ideation workshops, illuminates how sketching together with verbalisation is a powerful combination for conceptualisation. In this, the workshop format emerged as an effective means for encouraging novice designers to develop ideation skills. The pilot was also instrumental for conducting a Multiple case study comprising five second year design students and five recent design graduates working in industry in the domains of fashion, architecture, graphics, product and general design. Using self-reporting and interviews the cases illuminate real uses of conceptual tools situated in everyday designing that reveal the multifaceted yet unpredictable character of ideation. The Summary and Conclusion discuss the future role of the conceptual sketch in digital design environments and suggest how scholarship in the context of teaching and learning design can bridge the worlds of design schools and professional practice. In this, computer-aided ideation, CAI, emerged as a promising research field