Week 2: Lecture Notes

Process & context

Design Process Overview: Part 1

• Bill Verblank’s concrete process theory to the general overview from invention to presentation

• 

• In this sketch it is going from the invent/invention stage until it includes an error then moves to the idea/ideation –
  • Then to the design phase metaphor
  • Scenario development
  • Engineering phase of task analysis modelling
  • Representation phase.

• Project ideas start very low tech which can involve:
  • pencil & paper
  • sketchbooks
  • sticky notes
  • Note cards
  • White boards

This helps us understand, define and frame the problem.

• Early visualisations for diagrams, models, and flows helps us identify, directions, missing information and most appropriate next steps

There are numerous techniques of gathering information of generating ideas and making us solve decisions which involves:

• Precedent research
• Observe people – ask questions based on their observation
• Test prototypes

Part 2: Context

• When designing interaction we need to know:
  • what people are trying to do?
  • how they may try to do it?
  • what gets in the way or helps?
  • where they might be doing it?

e.g checking bank balance for different devices either going to the supermarket

– relating to context for use

• Questions to ask ask for contact scenarios;
  • What’s the setting or environment in which the interface or the device will be used? – is it public or private or is it conductive
  • Who will be using the device or interface? – will it be used by one person, or multiple people or how long will the interface be used for? will the person be able to focus on their task, or will they be interrupted while using it?
  • Does the experience need to be extremely simple? – how much complexity can be accepted ?
  • What are the person’s needs & goals? – what are they trying to accomplish or complete?

Reflection

The most important aspect of the lecture 2 pod is again Verblank’s concrete theory because it simply describes the whole process easily from invention to presentation which can give viewers an easier guide to follow when trying to plan a process on what needs to be involved in order to succeed.