ideation methodology:
ideation methodology:
Exhausting the Design Space
Exhausting the Design Space
Embedded Files
This project introduces an ideation methodology I developed to systematically exhaust the design space by identifying key design components and then exploring the design alternatives they can produce in parallel. By intersecting different the design components and tracing the design alternatives that emerge from their intersections, the method generates a rich, generative landscape of possibilities.
Demonstrating the Ideation Methodology Through a Data Physicalization Process
Demonstrating the Ideation Methodology Through a Data Physicalization Process
To illustrate this methodology, I applied it to the ideation of a data physicalization project in which design components were grouped under broader themes as outlined below. For example, Interaction Mode included components such as static and interactive, and Engagement Mode included components like individual and collective interaction components, among others.
Interaction Mode
Engagement Mode
Spatial Experience
Configuration & Scale
Technology
Data Representation
This methodology is grounded in systematically extracting and intersecting different design components to generate diverse design alternatives. It supports a comprehensive ideation process in which unique design alternatives emerge from the intersection and interaction of different design elements, helping to exhaust the design space and avoiding premature commitment to a single direction.
An illustration of how a non-hierarchical, parallel exploration of design components leads to a generative process.
An illustration of how a non-hierarchical, parallel exploration of design components leads to a generative process.
As components are progressively added, shifted, and intersected, new design possibilities emerge, eventually forming a landscape of meaningful and diverse alternatives. Rather than following a linear or hierarchical process, this methodology supports the simultaneous development of multiple design components. These components evolve in parallel, without being dependent on a fixed sequence. As they intersect within this non-hierarchical structure, new and sometimes unconventional design possibilities emerge. These intersections are not predefined but arise dynamically, often revealing insights that traditional design processes may overlook. This flexible framework allows for a more thorough and generative exploration of the design space, uncovering opportunities that may otherwise remain hidden.
An example of design exploration, moving and intersecting components
An example of design exploration, moving and intersecting components
design alternative 1
design alternative 1
Intersection of the first group of components, revealing design alternative 1
design alternative 2
design alternative 2
Adding some more components and intersecting them with some existing elements in parallel to form alternative 2
design alternative 2
design alternative 2
Intersecting some more components with some existing elements in parallel to generate a new alternative
All emerged alternatives
All emerged alternatives
We continued this process, arriving at a wide range of rich and diverse design alternatives, as shown in this diagram. This diagram shows the continuous, dynamic, and non-hierarchical exploration of the different design components. As new ideas and designs emerge at the intersections of these components, the diagram highlights these overlaps with colored areas, and the sketches illustrate the concepts born from these intersections.
Following is the zoomed views of different parts of the extended diagram to show the intersected components and the emerged idaes in each part.
Following is the zoomed views of different parts of the extended diagram to show the intersected components and the emerged idaes in each part.
This part of the extended diagram highlights the variety of spatial experiences we considered to engage people with the art installation by intersecting Spatial Experiences, Data Representation, Technology, and Physical Configurations.
One such idea is to engage people in walking with their devices and interacting with the piece through AR overlays. Another idea features suspending the installation from the ceiling (Physical Configuration and Scale), which invites visitors to lie down (Spatial Experience) and view the artwork from a unique perspective, promoting a prolonged and memorable experience. Another idea shows the integration of large-scale installations connecting to different architectural elements, each representing one data aspect (Data Mapping). This design prompts visitors to wander and explore different parts of the installation. Each viewpoint offers new insights, turning the exploration into a maze-like journey of discovery.
Here, we looked at the interplay between Data Representation, Physical Configuration, and Spatial Experience. We explored the integration of vertical and horizontal color coding within ceiling-suspended installations, experimenting with AR-infused KiriPhys using projectors. By manipulating how the same data subset is projected and mapped in the physical space, we aim to influence visitor behavior and enhance their data experience. These design ideas encourage viewers to navigate through the data by walking, standing, and viewing the installation from different distances and perspectives.
The ideas that emerged in this section are centered around the handheld scale, and while these experiences might appear similar at a glance, they offer profoundly different data experiences. These range from collaborative to solitary experiences, utilizing diverse visual and tactile exploration methods. One emergent idea involves a collaborative interaction with the artwork, where participants can view and manipulate data overlays using AR glasses. This approach fosters a communal data exploration experience, highlighting how digital enhancements can augment physical data representations.
This part shows our exploration of the design space initiated with tabletop data art pieces. We envisioned visitors navigating the space (Spatial Experience) and their possible interaction with the installation (Interaction Mode) and the possible technologies that can shape their data discovery. This inspired experimentation with various interaction modes, such as static and interactive sculptures sparking some design concepts from their overlap with other explored components. While exploring different datasets, we used projection (Technology) and mapped data to colours (Data Representation) projected onto the sculpture.
Here, we continued to explore the possibilities of large-scale installations (Physical Configuration and Scale) to experiment with embodied spatial experiences. We experimented with ground-supported and wall-mounted installations as well as elements that are suspended from the ceiling, which correspond to their ground-supported counterparts. In parallel, we investigated different enabling technologies such as AR on a phone.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse