Playing with Constraints The value of interactive prototypes in driving the design process Haiyan Zhang . Sketching 07 . San Francisco . hzhang@ideo.com

Interaction Designer Computer science, programming, flash IDII IDEO Into prototyping and new play experiences Introduction Haiyan Zhang . Sketching 07 . San Francisco . hzhang@ideo.com

Interaction Designer

Computer science, programming, flash

IDII

IDEO

Into prototyping and new play experiences

Interaction Design Thesis

Control Freaks

Control Freaks

IDEO Prototyping Workshop

IDEO Prototyping Workshop

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

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

Interactive prototypes allow you to work with the constraints of technology

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

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

“ You discover new possibilities of making & design through putting things together.”

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

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 puck Fixed mounting Fixed sized board Wall-mounted tuning system

System

Playing with configuration System Constraints One puck Fixed mounting Fixed sized board Wall-mounted tuning system Design Potential

System

Playing with configuration System Constraints One puck Fixed mounting Fixed sized board Wall-mounted tuning system Multiple pucks Any size canvas Any flat surface 2 people tuning Books for the blind Augmented atlases Design Potential

System

Playing with configuration System Constraints One puck Fixed mounting Fixed sized board Wall-mounted tuning system Multiple pucks Any size canvas Any flat surface 2 people tuning Books for the blind Augmented atlases Left Brain Right Brain Design Potential

System

Case Study: Control Freaks

Working with constraints System Constraints Potential Binary tilt Vibrations send false positives Tilt Sensor Accelerometer Accelerometer + Gyro? Accelerometer + Compas? Can detect distinct movement in 2 directions About 2 levels of activity

System

Case Study: Playing with Prototypes Miguel Mora, RCA

Case Study: Playing with Prototypes Adrian Westaway, RCA

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?)

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

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

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.com