A constructive approach for design space exploration

ABSTRACT

The co-evolution of different kinds of external representations is essential in Human-Centered Design. It helps design teams to interleave different design activities and to view a design problem from different perspectives. The paper investigates a coupling of representations for Design Rationale, formal HCI models, and prototypical implementations for a more effective co-exploration of problem and design spaces with both analytical and empirical means. Deliberated underdesign and parallel, model-guided prototyping are proposed techniques to systematically integrate exploratory design steps into evolutionary prototyping. The general approach is instantiated with QOC diagrams, HOPS models, and Java implementations. HOPS models are used for two purposes: to create 'throw-away extensions' of an existing prototype and to specify design goals and constraints. The animation tool allows designers to explore and to reflect the model-guided prototypes. A case study demonstrates the applicability of the approach. Implications for related design practices are discussed.

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Index Terms

• Human-centered computing

  • Human computer interaction (HCI)

• Software and its engineering

  • Software creation and management

    • Designing software

      • Software implementation planning

        • Software design techniques

    • Software development process management