The document summarizes research conducted by Barbora Batakova, Lauren Chapman, Norman Lau, and Gretchen Pinard for their Conceptual Models project at Carnegie Mellon University in Spring 2011. They interviewed graduate design students to understand how students find and work with others across disciplines for projects. Their research informed two conceptual models of a potential skills exchange service showing how students could articulate needs, find contacts, and maintain relationships across disciplines.

1. Skills Exchange Service
Barbora Batakova
Lauren Chapman
Norman Lau
Gretchen Pinard
Conceptual Models, Project 2
Carnegie Mellon, Spring 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

2. Project Goal
“Conduct research, build a model of your findings,
and come to a model of design implications”
We focused on researching the process of finding and using the skills of
other students for projects. When a graduate design students needs to find an
actor for a video sketch, how do they go about seeking a student from the
Drama program?
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

3. 6 Interviews + Directed Storytelling
“I find people through friends so
I can trust their work.”
“It’s definitely something I would do
again, but we don’t know who to
go to or how to find people who
need our services.”
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

4. 6 Interviews + Directed Storytelling
“I struggled with a ‘discipline’
language barrier. I had no idea
how to speak like an Industrial
Designer to get what I was looking
for.”
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

5. Synthesis of
research
insights for
Model 1
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

6. Model 1 version 1
3 SUSTAINING
RELATIONSHIP
Communicating across disciplines Providing compensation for time and work done
Communicating clear vision
Using various communication channels
1
Keeping in touch with partners Carrying the risk of failure
ARTICULATING
THE NEED
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
STUDENTS DESIGNER
GRAD DESIGN
STUDENTS DESIGN CS
FACULTY CLASSMATES MUSICIANS PROGRAMMERS
HCI
OTHER
INDUSTRIAL
DEPARTMENT
DESIGNERS PHOTOGRAPHERS
FACULTY FRIENDS
CPID IXD
DRAMA
ARCHITECTS STUDENTS
Wanting credentials
2 GETTING
CONTACTS
Getting recommendations
Seeing portfolios Relying on word of mouth for
contacts and their reputation
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

7. Final Model 1
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

8. Final Model 1
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

9. Final Model 1
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

10. Model 2
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

11. Model 2
Tuesday, April 26, 2011