playing with constraints: the value of interactive prototypes in driving the design process

Haiyan Zhang . Sketching 07 . San Francisco . hzhang@ideo.com

Playing with Constraints

The value of interactive prototypes in driving the design process

• Interaction Designer• Computer science, programming, flash• IDII• IDEO

• Into prototyping and new play experiences

Introduction

Interaction Design Thesis

Haiyan Zhang . Sketching 07 . San Francisco . hzhang@ideo.comControl Freaks

Control Freaks

IDEO Prototyping Workshop

Overview

• Interactive prototypes allow you to work with the constraints of technology

• Discover new design opportunities through playing with these constraints

• Technology is not the only dimension of constraint

1. Interactive prototypes allow you to work with the constraints of technology

• Graphic sketch: layout, screen proportions, visual forms, interface controls

• Interactive prototype (Flash, Processing): animation, behavior, timing, real data

“You discover new possibilities of making & design through

putting things together.”Jack Schulze, schulzeandwebb.com

2. Discover new design opportunities

• Once you’ve turned your design into a system - you can play with the configuration of that system to generate new design opportunities.

• Work within constraints to refine your design

• Observe others interacting with the prototype in unexpected ways

Case Study: Holistic Empathy - Internet Radio

Henry Holland, RCA

Playing with configuration

System Constraints Design Potential

One puckFixed mountingFixed sized board

Wall-mountedtuning system

System Constraints

Design Potential

System Constraints

Multiple pucksAny size canvasAny flat surface

2 people tuningBooks for the blindAugmented atlases

Design Potential

System Constraints

Multiple pucksAny size canvasAny flat surface

2 people tuningBooks for the blindAugmented atlases

Left Brain Right Brain

Design Potential

Case Study: Control Freaks

Working with constraints

System Constraints Potential

Binary tiltVibrations send false positives

Tilt Sensor

Accelerometer

Accelerometer + Gyro?Accelerometer + Compas?

Can detect distinctmovement in 2 directionsAbout 2 levels of activity

Case Study: Playing with Prototypes

Miguel Mora, RCA

Case Study: Playing with Prototypes

Adrian Westaway, RCA

3. Technology is not the only dimension of constraint

• You can also play with other constraints in the prototype– Physical form (it’s heaviness, stiffness)– Affordance (what can I do with it? It

can be held, thrown, squeezed)– Narrative (why would I want to do this?

What is the meaning behind this interaction?)

Use other forms of prototyping

Summary

• Interactive prototypes should be part of early design exploration

• By creating interactive prototypes you:– Discover and work with the constraints of the technology– Play with the configuration of the prototype to change

constraints and discover new design opportunities– Observe others interact with your prototype, sometimes

in unexpected ways, and discover new opportunities

• Technology is not the only dimension of constraint

Implications for physical prototyping tools• Help me understand the constraints• Help me play with constraints

– Easily reconfigure the system– Suggest technology alternatives

• Help me test the constraints with others– Robust– Easily reproducible, transportable

• Help me play with constraints in other dimensions– Physical form of the prototype– Build new shapes– Attach to existing objects

Haiyan Zhang . Sketching 07 . San Francisco . hzhang@ideo.comHaiyan Zhang . Sketching 07 . San Francisco . hzhang@ideo.com

playing with constraints: the value of interactive prototypes in driving the design process

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