User-testing is crucial in modern product design. The perception-centric design philosophy aims to cut costs and improve responses to low-cost prototypes by including aspects like thermal properties, texture, weight, sound, and haptic feedback. This paper introduces a set of considerations for integrating low-cost vibrotactile haptics into prototypes. Derived using an action-based research process, it addresses product characterisation, actuation, control, and integration. Multi-sensory prototypes in early-stage design could be vital for the sustainable prototyping of the future.

This study investigates the relationship between the number and type of prototypes developed in rapid prototyping contexts, a team's performance self-estimations, and final actual performance. Findings suggest a strong correlation between each of these elements, with the converse also found to be true, motivating the introduction of the concept of Design Delusion - a type of cognitive dissonance due to differences between perceived and actual states. The paper suggests that early prototyping helps identify and mitigate design delusion, improving design decisions and preventing technical debt.

Design hackathons offer a unique research opportunity to study time-pressured collaborative design. At the same time, research on design hackathons faces unique methodological challenges, prompting the exploration of new research approaches. This paper proposes a new data-collection framework that leverages a virtual format of hackathon events and enables a deeper insight into hackathon dynamics. The framework applicability is presented through a case study of the IDEA challenge hackathon, in which different intrusive and non-intrusive data collection approaches were used.

This article presents an fNIRS experiment investigating cognitive differences between physical and digital prototyping methods in designers (N=25) engaged in open and constrained design tasks. Initial results suggest that physical prototyping yields increased hemodynamic response (i.e., brain activity) compared to digital design, and that constrained design yields increased hemodynamic response compared to open design, in the prefrontal cortex. Further work will seek to triangulate results by investigating potential correlations to design processes and design outputs.

Developmental Language Disorders (DLDs) affects a significant number of children during early childhood. Speech and Language Pathologists (SLPs) are vital in providing the adequate treatment through Speech and Language Therapeutic Toys (SALTTs) including board games, which have substantial benefits for children undergoing therapy. However, designers require support in designing board games which specifically target child therapy. A framework is proposed to assist designers in designing more efficient, inclusive and usable games which in turn are aligned with therapy goals defined by SLPs.

User experiences of atypical conditions leading to adverse events have the potential to discover latent user needs and improve usability in design outcomes. This study introduces atypical scenarios as a design intervention to student designers working on healthcare product design projects. These atypical scenarios are framed from real-world clinical experience related to individual projects. 40 participants from a healthcare product design course comprising of 8 teams were involved in this study. Results indicate a positive influence on design and designers in terms of usability in the design process.

Past research shows there are significant barriers for creating long lasting products. In this paper we examine, the distinct collaborative barriers design consultancies face when striving to design long-lasting products for client firms. Data is collected through case studies (four months of observations and interviews) from three projects. Through the study we find indications, that the value chain intricacies, provide distinct interfirm barriers for creating long lasting products. These barriers include vision clashes, misalignment in the aspired manufacturing quality and price position.

Post study questionnaires are used in design studies to uncover data about design reasoning and intent. A study was conducted where activities the study participants performed were compared to the participants’ statements about those activities, collected immediately after the study via a questionnaire. The goal was to explore the reliability of post study evaluations. Disagreements between performed and reported activities were identified, and recommendations made to, where possible, include more objective measures of design activity.

The increasing availability of smart products creates a more pronounced need for designers to prototype and communicate interactive and environmental qualities of product during their design process. This paper explores which elements of User journey, Storyboards and Wireframes contribute to communicating these qualities, and how they might integrate with sketching. Results show depictions of user and temporal elements alongside low fidelity sketches are deemed most important. Our findings form the basis to propose and subsequently test combined prototyping approaches in future research.

This paper proposes a task-related electroencephalogram research framework (tEEG framework) to guide scholars’ research on EEG-based cognitive and affective studies in the context of design. The proposed tEEG framework aims to investigate design activities with loosely controlled experiments and decompose a complex design process into multiple primitive cognitive activities, corresponding to which different research hypotheses on basic design activities can be effectively formulated and tested. Thereafter, existing EEG techniques and methods can be applied to analyse EEG signals related to design. Three application examples are presented at the end of this paper to demonstrate how the proposed framework can be applied to analyse design activities. The tEEG framework is presented to guide EEG-based cognitive and affective studies in the context of design. Existing methods and models are summarized, for the effective application of the tEEG framework, from the current literature spread in a wide spectrum of resources and fields.

Recommendations of sustainable design methods are usually based on theory, not empirical industry tests. Furthermore, since professionals often mix components of different design methods, recommending whole methods may not be relevant. It may be better to recommend component activities or mindsets. To provide empirical grounding for recommendations, this study performed 23 workshops on three sustainable design methods involving over 172 professionals from 27 companies, including consultancies and manufacturers in three industries (consumer electronics, furniture and clothing). The design methods tested were The Natural Step, Whole System Mapping and Biomimicry. Participants were surveyed about what components in each design method drove perceived innovation, sustainability or other value, and why. The most valued components only partially supported theoretical predictions. Thus, recommendations should be more empirically based. Results also found unique and complementary value in components of each method, which suggests recommending mixed methods for sustainable design. This may help design professionals find more value in green design practices, and thus integrate sustainability more into their practice.

The study of design cognitive activity began in the 70s under the influence of psychology and ergonomics. Since then, the design process has undergone many changes with the advent of technology. This paper will notably present you to one of them: the Spatial Augmented Reality (SAR). The study conducted with this technology will focus on multimodal analysis in co-design meetings were we have compared two co-design sessions. We notice that the design activity is unchanged by the introduction of such a technology but could encourage interactions from clients who are usually less invested.

The My Naturewatch project uses self-build wildlife cameras supporting new public engagements with nature & technology. The project used Open Design methods providing self-defined, bespoke making outputs, modelling ‘environmental citizenship’, transitioning beyond sustainability. By co-designing makers were encouraged to engage with ecosystems refocusing human habitats & perspectives driven by curiosity. The article shares a qualitative evaluation of the project's impact on participants, describing attitudes, understanding and behaviour towards technology & nature changed by participation.