Research & OpportunitiesConcept ExplorationFirst IterationSecond Iteration51-403 Graduate Design Studio
M/W 1:30 - 4:20 pm
A11 Margaret Morrison
Jodi Forlizzi, Instructor [forlizzi@cs.cmu.edu]Joonhwan Lee, TA [joonhwan@cs.cmu.edu]
Office hours by appointment . .
Assignment 1: Identify Research and Design Direction
To understand the experience of sharing personal information for people today, and to understand how we might build on or improve that experience, we will begin the semester learning about users, technology, and existing products. We will analyze our findings and then identify needs and opportunities for new products and services. A second task for this part of the semester will be to prepare web sites for weekly updates.Part 1. Preliminary research
After the icebreaker meeting, students will work in groups to conduct additional research. One group will conduct research on products that support communication and mobility(not only here but in other cultures. One group will conduct a survey of current and future technology that might be used to create our product. One group will do broad research on users. A fourth group will structure and document this research and make it available for our client on the web.Part 2. Defining research direction
We will work with a specific audience, technology, or functionality to generate research statements. Each statement will have three parts: the audience intended for the design, a statement about what this audience might need, and a rationale of how the team arrived at this conclusion. These statements will be driving mechanisms for teams, guiding what will be developed for the rest of the semester. Additional research and design will provide a clear idea of how the product might change or improve the experience of its users. The research statements will be discussed in a three hour design "charrette." They will be communicated to class members, and documented on the web site.Part 3. Web site design
When final teams are chosen, each team will be responsible for creating and maintaining a communications web site. .Educational Goals
The goals of this project are as follows:- to learn what is encompassed in design research and opportunity definition, both through practice and by reviewing case studies presented in class lectures;
- to conduct front-end user, product and technology studies to understand how they inform new product design;
- to practice communicating abstract ideas in a short presentation;
- to allow us to get to know each other.
Deliverables
Research statements that identify the audience, the perceived need for a new product, and the reasons why you think so. .Resources
Cagan, J. and Vogel, C. Creating Breakthrough Products. . .| Date | Scheduled | Deliver |
| M 1/13/03 |
introductions icebreaking brainstorming review past outcomes |
| W 1/15/03 |
research methods overview identify research directions worksession |
research topic areas due |
| M1/20/03 |
No class MLK day |
research plan due by email |
| W 1/22/03 |
web site discussion MessyBoard brainstorming |
client communication concepts by end of class |
| M 1/27/03 | research statments charrette |
| W 1/29/03 |
grouping and ranking form final teams |
research statements and sketches due |
| M 2/3/03 |
A1 critique presentations |
research statements and sketches due |