Testing virtual use with scenarios

To enhance the effectiveness of engineering simulations in product development, this thesis presents a new approach that enables designers to include human responses and reactions to artefact behaviour in their investigations. It does so without requiring deployment of real human subjects or investing in interactive virtual environments. The new...

Simulating the use of products: Applying the nucleus paradigm to resource-integrated virtual interaction models

We introduce a methodology for modelling and simulating fully virtual human-artefact systems, aiming to resolve two issues in virtual prototyping: (i) integration of distinct modelling and simulation approaches, and (ii) extending the deployability of simulations towards conceptual design. We are going to offer designers a new way of...

Sensory incongruity and surprise in product design

People continuously experience the world and the objects in it through all their senses. Product designers can influence the way people experience products by paying attention to the multiple sensory aspects of product design. Designing sensory experiences can be aimed at communicating a consistent message to all sensory channels, making this...

Product sounds: Fundamentals and application

Products are ubiquitous, so are the sounds emitted by products. Product sounds influence our reasoning, emotional state, purchase decisions, preference, and expectations regarding the product and the product's performance. Thus, auditory experience elicited by product sounds may not be just about the act of hearing or a sensory response to an...

Controlling simulations of human-artifact interaction with scenario bundles

We introduce a methodology for modeling and simulating fully virtual human-artifact systems, aiming to resolve two issues in virtual prototyping: (i) integration of distinct modeling and simulation approaches, and (ii) extending the deployability of simulations towards conceptual design. We are going to offer designers a new way of investigating...

Selecting materials in product design

This thesis exists of several studies and design steps that resulted in a new material selection technique for user-centred design, which is supported by tools. The tools use examples of materials in products and stimulate the discussions about the user-interaction aspects of those materials desired in a new product. The sensorial properties of...

Material Considerations in Product Design: A Survey on Crucial Material Aspects Used by Product Designers

The competitive market rising from the increase in product consumption makes product designers consider more about materials than before. Materials, indeed, have been extensively studied in science and engineering for years. Existing materials selection sources can serve as useful function in giving up to date information on technical (physical,...

For Inspiration Only; Designer interaction with informal collections of visual material

Designers surround themselves with visual material as a source of inspiration. The images are used in collages and moodboards to define and communicate the direction of a design project at an early stage of the design process. This thesis describes how designers interact with their collections of visual material and how new tools can support...

Designing with precedents

Every year designers are challenged to generate new and unique product forms. Often, the design and form of previous products constitutes a basis for the generation of new ones. What role then do existing products play in the generation and development of new product forms? How can this role be influenced by means of new design techniques? And...

Design of a chewing gum that does not fouls the streets and is digestible

Ontology-based modeling of product functionality and use part 2: Considering use and unintended behavior

the function-behavior representation language FBRL was originally devised for modeling and knowledge management of intended product behavior. This paper explores its potential for application to other-than-intended behavior in a use context, introducing consideration of the user and the environment. We found that slightly adapted building blocks...