Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Graduate Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2019 Design problem exploration Samantha Creeger Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd Part of the Art and Design Commons Recommended Citation Creeger, Samantha, "Design problem exploration" (2019). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 16991. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/16991 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Design problem exploration by Samantha Creeger A thesis submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Major: Human Computer Interaction Program of Study Committee: Seda McKilligan, Major Professor Alex Braidwood Carlos Cardoso The student author, whose presentation of the scholarship herein was approved by the program of study committee, is solely responsible for the content of this thesis. The Graduate College will ensure this thesis is globally accessible and will not permit alterations after a degree is conferred. Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2019 Copyright © Samantha Creeger, 2019. All rights reserved. ii DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this thesis to my family for being my biggest supporters during the master’s program. Ali, thank you for your guidance and wisdom when I needed it the most, especially the late-night pep talks. Mom, thank you for always believing in me and cheering me on with anything I set my mind to. Dad, thank you for your generosity, knowledge in developing the tool, and for graciously appeasing my last- minute requests. Grandma and Grandpa, thank you for your constant positivity and unconditional love. I would also like to thank my closest friends, near and far, for continuing to push me and help me realize that I can achieve my fullest potential. Your love and patience do not go unnoticed. This thesis would not have been completed without the full support of all my family and friends. Sending much gratitude and love to you all. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ v LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................ vii ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 Research Motivation ...................................................................................................... 2 Experimental Approach ................................................................................................. 2 Thesis Structure ............................................................................................................. 3 References ..................................................................................................................... 3 CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................ 4 Overview ....................................................................................................................... 4 Importance of Problem Exploration .............................................................................. 4 Problem Definitions ....................................................................................................... 6 Problem Exploration in Design Education .................................................................... 7 Current Problem Exploration Techniques ..................................................................... 7 References ..................................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 3. STUDY 1: STRATEGIES TO REDEFINE THE PROBLEM SPACE FOR DESIGN INNOVATION ......................................................................................... 13 Abstract ........................................................................................................................ 13 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 13 Problem Exploration Strategies ................................................................................... 15 Experimental Approach ............................................................................................... 16 Participants ............................................................................................................. 16 Data Collection and Analysis ................................................................................. 16 Results ......................................................................................................................... 18 RESEARCH QUESTION 1: Can problem exploration strategies be identified in students’ design problem definitions? ................................................................ 18 RESEARCH QUESTION 2: How do the use of strategies differ among the design students? ...................................................................................................... 20 Discussion .................................................................................................................... 23 Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 24 References ................................................................................................................... 25 CHAPTER 4. DESIGN OF THE TOOL .......................................................................... 27 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 27 Process of Synthesizing Heuristics .............................................................................. 27 Identifying a Digital Platform for the Tool Development ........................................... 33 iv Pilot Testing ................................................................................................................. 33 Approach of Tool ......................................................................................................... 33 References ................................................................................................................... 38 CHAPTER 5. STUDY 2: EXPLORING THE PROBLEM SPACE WITH PROBLEM EXPLORATION STRATEGIES .................................................................. 39 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 39 Data Collection ............................................................................................................ 39 Participants ............................................................................................................. 41 Method.................................................................................................................... 41 Data Analysis ............................................................................................................... 42 Results ......................................................................................................................... 42 Q1: Did the students utilize the strategies? ............................................................ 43 Q2: How did the students perceive the benefit of using the strategies? ................. 48 Q3: How did the students use the strategies? ......................................................... 57 Q4: How much diversity is created among the new problems after strategy use? ......................................................................................................................... 60 References ................................................................................................................... 66 CHAPTER 6. CONCLUSION.......................................................................................... 68 Limitations and Recommendations for Future Work .................................................. 71 APPENDIX A. IRB APPROVAL .................................................................................... 72 APPENDIX B. INFORMED CONSENT DOCUMENT ................................................. 73 APPENDIX C. PROTOCOL TEMPLATE ...................................................................... 76 v LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 3.1 Concept solutions solving reframed problems ................................................ 21 Figure 3.2 Concepts generated by P13, based on reframed statements in Table 3.4 ........ 22 Figure 4.1 Introductory Website Page .............................................................................. 34 Figure 4.2 Original Problem Statement ............................................................................ 34 Figure 4.3 'Random' Strategy Generator ..........................................................................