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D R S _ N E W S
The electronic newsletter of the Design Research Society
Volume 4, Number 3
March 1999
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CONTENTS
o Editor's space
o Multi-Viewpoint,Shaping the Human Computer Interface
o Conference: Useful And Critical
o Announcements & Calls for Papers
o Questions, questions
o Cyber News
o The Design Research Society: details of membership
o Electronic Services of the DRS
o Contributing to DRS_NEWS
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EDITOR'S SPACE
The DRS website is being updated this week, so in a few days
time there will be a bit more content at http://www.drs.org.uk
If Bertrand from the Centre du Design Rhone Alpes would like to
send me his email address, I will pass it on to someone who has
inquired about his letter in last month's 'Questions Questions'.
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MULTI-VIEWPOINT,SHAPING THE HUMAN COMPUTER INTERFACE
We would like to thank all those people who attended
"Multi-viewpoint, Shaping the Human Computer Interface" at the
Centre for Design Research. The event, which focused on the
many implications of the digital on the design profession, was
well attended and proved to be an exciting and informative day.
In particular, we would like to thank all the guest speakers
including Professor Harold Thimbleby (Middlesex University),
Kim Fisher (BT), Dave Roberts (IBM), Walter Penndorf (aka design
visualisation), Steve Bailey (octo design), Nina
Warburton (Random Product Design), and Kevin McCullagh
(Freelance Design Strategist), for their valuable contributions.
The conference was part of an on-going series of events
concerned with furthering design practice by looking at the way
designers use computers to design three dimensional interfaces
in Virtual Reality, Computer Aided Design and 3D modelling.
This research initiative has been formed into a project called
'Visualise', which is motivated by the desire to expand our
understanding of the potential of three dimensional virtual
forms to make communication more intuitive and empathic.
Those with an interest in the themes of the conference and other
events in the 'Visualise' project can search the web pages
which are located at http://vision.unn.ac.uk/visualise. This
site represents a forum to discuss the role of three dimensional
digital form, and charts past and future events as well
as providing general resources and information about the
Visualise project.
We will be continuing the themes of the day with our next event
entitled "Envisioning the future of interface" to be held
in Autumn 1999.
"Multi-viewpoint, Shaping the Human Computer Interface"-
included the following presentations.
"What is the Computer Medium?"
Professor Harold Thimbleby
"Can Three Dimensionality Reveal New Knowledge?"
Andrea Cooper
"Using 3D, A Practitioners Perspective, the Pitfalls &
Potentials." Kim Fisher
"Choosing the Real World as your Metaphor"
Dave Roberts
"Representing Reality"
Walter Penndorf
"How Real?"
Steve Bailey
"The Integration of the Digital in the Design Process"
Nina Warburton
"Industrial Designers: The New Craftsmen of Media?"
Tobias Misera
"How Can Theory Assist Practice?"
Kevin McCullagh
Robert Young
Centre for Design Research, University of
Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
[log in to unmask]
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DESIGN STUDIES
Volume 20 Number 2 (March 1999) is a special issue on Design
Education, guest edited by Chuck Eastman, Wendy Newstetter and
Michael McCracken of Georgia Institute of Technology, USA.
Contents:
Educating the designerly thinker
R Oxman
To design vs to understand design: The role of graphic
representations and verbal expressions
Z Ulusoy
A comparison of freshman and senior engineering design processes
CJ Atman, JR Chimka, KM Bursic, HL Nachtmann
Expertise and the use of visual analogy: Implications for design
education H Casakin, G Goldschmidt
Types and instances: A paradigm for teaching design with
computers L Madrazo
"Stuckness" in the design studio
A Sachs
Walking on a thin line
A Heylighen, JE Bouwen, H Neuckermans
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CONFERENCE: USEFUL AND CRITICAL - THE POSITION OF RESEARCH IN
DESIGN - CALL FOR PAPERS. 9-11 September 1999: International
Conference, Tuusula, Finland.
The University of Art and Design Helsinki UIAH is organising an
international conference on design research focusing on the uses
of research in design, its industrial and commercial
utilisation, and its both proactive and critical role in the
design system in general. The conference is intended for
researchers, doctoral students and design practitioners. The
Useful and Critical -conference will follow up the discussion
and topics of the No Guru, No Method? International Art and
Design Research Conference held in Helsinki three years ago.
This time, however, we will be focusing on the uses of research
in design, its industrial and commercial utilisation, and its
both proactive and critical role in the design system in
general.
The organisers are now calling for proposals for papers related
to the issues listed below. Papers may reflect these topics on a
general level or present illustrative cases that demonstrate
their use in practice.
THEME National programs for design, and for using it to gain a
competitive edge in international trade and commerce, are
currently being drawn up worldwide, including in Finland and the
other Nordic countries, as well as in Brazil, South Korea and
the UK. These programs view research as a prime mover, and a key
instrument in producing the knowledge that fuels the development
of design and the related fields.
In the increasingly global market economy, what is the role of
design research in product development, product differentiation,
mass customisation, and the cultural profiling of products? Does
it mean locating niches of potential consumption, or
company-based, regional and national efforts to promote design?
How can research generate new knowledge and skills in agencies
that provide design services?
On the other hand, what is the critical role of research in this
context? Can research remain autonomous or is it no more than a
mute servant or a proactive tool for advancing a greater cause -
design and its commercial utilisation?
TOPICS
- research and national agendas for design
- the position of research in design promotion (micro, meso and
macro-level efforts)
- research and the practice of design agencies
- design, product development, manufacture, research
- the position of the "design system" in relation to national
systems of innovation
- design, research and modes of consumption: only new market
shares count, or do ethics come into it?
- producing culture-based knowledge to serve design-based
industries and trade
- research on design in a cultural context: what can it
contribute?
- design and gender - research and critical theory: sharing the
mission, or constructive critique?
Submission of abstracts: Abstracts should preferably be sent by
e-mail to [log in to unmask] or by regular mail on diskette
(3.5") with a paper copy to: University of Art and Design
Helsinki UIAH, Hameentie 153 B, 00560 Helsinki, Finland.
DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACTS IS MARCH 31, 1999.
For further information visit our Web site:
http://www.uiah.fi/conferences/summeracad/
Pekka Korvenmaa Chairman of the Organising Committee
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ANNOUNCEMENTS & CALLS FOR PAPERS
* Keep up to date with themes and issues in ergonomics
research and practice.
Global Ergonomics is the complete proceedings of the
ergonomics conference held in Cape Town, South Africa, 9-11
September 1998. Jointly hosted by the Ergonomics Society of
South Africa (ESSA) and the International Ergonomics
Association (IEA), it represented the largest and most
prestigious gathering of eminent international ergonomists
in the history of Africa.
The conference examined international advances, problems and
trends and evaluated their application to both industrially
developed and developing countries.
For further information about Global Ergonomics, please
visit our web site at:
http://www.elsevier.nl/locate/isbn/0080433340
* Final Call for Papers
Special Issue on Digital Technologies in Theatre &
Performance
Deadline for the receipt of all material - 30 April 1999
Digital Creativity is an international journal which
publishes peer-reviewed articles concerned with the
relationship of digital technologies to traditional creative
practices. Articles are relevant to both practitioners and
those engaged in education. The journal will accept full
articles reporting significant achievements (5000-7000 word
papers), descriptions of work in progress (2000 word papers)
and expressions of important points of view (2000 word
papers). Authors are encouraged to use graphical
illustrations to accompany their text wherever appropriate.
This special issue will contain articles that relate to any
aspect of theatre, drama or performance. Of particular
interest will be articles which explore new forms of
performance or new processes within theatre made possible by
digital technologies (both computers and communications).
If you would like to submit material, or wish to discuss a
possible submission, then please contact: Colin Beardon,
University of Plymouth, Earl Richards Road North, Exeter
EX2 6AS, UK. Tel +44 1392 475028 Fax +44 1392 475012
email: [log in to unmask]
Digital Creativity 10(3) will be published October 1999
For more information on the Digital Creativity' journal see
<www.swets.nl/sps/journals/dc1.html>
* CALL FOR PROPOSALS - Deadline 9 APRIL 1999 Association
for Learning Technology 6th International Conference
THE LEARNING TECHNOLOGY LIFE-CYCLE
Tuesday to Thursday 21 - 23 SEPTEMBER 1999 University of
Bristol, UK
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
ALT-C 99 will examine the entire life-cycle of learning
technology, from initial design through to implementation
and outcome evaluation. Effective use of learning technology
depends upon integration within traditional academic and
curricular frameworks, and ALT-C 99 will focus on
discipline-base implementation and address associated issues
of policy and staff development.
Deadline for submission is 9 APRIL 1999.
For all details and on-line submission:
http://www.ilrt.bris.ac.uk/alt-c99/
Please complete and email/post your submission to: CTI
Support Service ALT-C99 Proposal University of Oxford 13
Banbury Road Oxford OX2 6NN UK Email: [log in to unmask]
* REMINDER! REMINDER! REMINDER! CALL FOR PAPERS Engineering
Design Education Conference 1999: The Continuum of Design
Education Glasgow 7-9 September 1999 Incorporating: SEED
'99 PDE '99
The Engineering Design Education Conference 1999 will
incorporate the 21st annual conference on Engineering Design
Education under the auspices of SEED (Shared Experience in
Engineering Design) and the 6th National Conference on
Product Design Education under the auspices of the
Institution of Engineering Designers. The conference will be
organized by the Higher Education Institutions in Glasgow
and supported by the Glasgow 1999 Partnership Fund.
The theme of the conference is The Continuum of Design
Education. Papers are invited from all members of the design
community involved in the education of the next generation
of designers: primary and secondary school teachers,
university and college lecturers and practising designers.
The purpose of the conference is to share experiences and
contribute to the body of knowledge of design education. The
scope of papers will not be restricted as long as they
reflect the general conference theme.
Additional information may be found on the conference web
site at:
http://www.strath.ac.uk/Departments/DMEM/EDE99
* 7 April 1999: Royal Society of Arts, London: Patricia
Moore, eminent gerontologist and designer will be giving a
lecture 'Ageing - a Lifespan Challenge'. Contact the RSA
Lecture Programme Office at 00 44 (0) 171 930 9286 or
E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>. Richard Wilson, actor
most famous for his role in the UK television programme 'One
foot in the Grave', will be chairing the lecture.
* 10 March 1999: ENSURING USABLE INTELLIGENT USER INTERFACES
at Hotel Calipolis, Sitges, Spain. The workshop will review
existing methodology of user centred design and usability
engineering in the light of innovative intelligent
information interfaces (the central mission of i3 related
initiatives and projects). The workshop will happen in the
course of the i3 spring days, which will establish and
maintain connections of different projects that are dealing
with innovative design methods. Especially this workshop
shall help designers, user interface engineers and usability
engineers to exchange experiences and to think of improved
and new methodological approaches.
Institute for Applied Computer Science Department for
Advanced Computer Engineering University of Vienna
lenaugasse 2/8, a-1080, Vienna, Austria, Europe tel:
+43-1-4086366-21 fax: +43-1-4080450 mail to:[log in to unmask]
http://www.dfki.de/imedia/workshops/i3-spring99/
* 3 June 1999: 5th Conference on Human Factors and the
Web: The Future of Web Applications. PAPER and PANEL
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MARCH 8, 1999. National Institute of
Standards and Technology Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
The fifth in a series of Human Factors and the Web
conferences will be held on Thursday, June 3, 1999 at the
National Institute of Standards and Technology,
Gaithersburg, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, DC.
The purpose of these conferences is to provide a forum for
sharing information among a community of human factors
engineers, designers, and developers who are interested in
producing web sites that are more useful and usable. The
first four conferences were sponsored by Sandia National
Laboratories (March 1996), Microsoft Corporation (October
1996), US West Communications (June 1997), and AT&T Labs
(June 1998). This year's conference will be hosted by NIST
and sponsored, in part, by AT&T Labs. We are still seeking
additional sponsors.
Web Site: http://www.nist.gov/hfweb
* 25-27 April 1999: THE 4TH CONFERENCE ON DESIGN
MANAGEMENT IN THE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT "Creating, Enhancing,
and Positioning Brands in the Digital Environment", Art
Center College of Design Pasadena, California, USA. Web
site at <http://www.dmi.org>
* 29-30 June 1999: Workshop Call for Participation Towards a
Framework of Interaction and Experience As It Relates To
Product Design. Usability Professional's Association
Conference Scottsdale, Arizona
While experience has long been a topic of interest to
philosophers, it has only recently come into vogue among
designers and business people. The ACM/interactions Design
Award criteria, published in 1996 by Alben, was one of the
first articles to articulate to the HCI community an
explicit position on the possibility of designing
experiences. More recently, an article in the Harvard
Business Review argued that the world is transitioning from
a service economy to an experience economy.
However, we seem to be in no better position to understand
human experience or how to design for it. The interactions
criteria, while providing some direction to the design
community, were preliminary; the HBR article doesn't offer
any new insights into how to design for this new economy.
What seems to be missing is a clear idea about what
experience is; what its components or elements are; and,
perhaps more importantly, whether it even can be designed or
scripted, or whether we must be content to facilitate it or
to keep from hindering it. In addition, we need to
understand better the principles of how people interact with
various types of artifacts, and how those interactions
affect the experiences people have. Finally, these theories,
to be useful, need to find expression in design processes,
materials, and forms.
This workshop will explore these questions, with two goals:
first, to gather together a small community of people
interested in this topic, and second, to make some progress
in mapping out the theoretical space as it stands today; to
gather some data to help us begin to think about what we
kinds of experiences we can facilitate and how interaction
styles might affect these experiences (a taxonomy of sorts);
and to begin to understand implications for product design
and usability testing processes.
We are looking for participants who are currently working
with theories of experience (for example, putting activity
theory into practice), are actively involved in trying to
define user experiences and to design for them (for example,
trying to produce "flow" experiences in computer games), or
have a serious interest in what interaction design and
design for experience means. To apply, send us a brief
description of your area of interest and work as it relates
to these topics (1-3 pages). For the workshop, we will ask
participants to bring some examples with them to the
workshop (images, magazine clippings, artifacts, etc.) that
for them represent different types of interaction and/or
experience. These examples could be software, hardware, or
any other artifact or natural object. We will also ask
participants to share their "top 10" references on the
workshop topic.
Registering for a Workshop Workshops are closed sessions;
you may register for a workshop only with permission of the
workshop organiser. To participate, send your application to
one of the following addresses by March 15, 1999:
Shannon Ford E-Lab, LLC 213 W. Institute Place, Suite 509
Chicago, IL 60610 +1 312 640 4459 [log in to unmask]
Jodi Forlizzi E-Lab, LLC 213 W. Institute Place, Suite 509
Chicago, IL 60610 +1 312 640 4438 [log in to unmask]
For more information: http://www.upassoc.org
* The Role of Product Design in Post-Industrial Society.
In the midst of debates on globalisation, this book attempts
to depict the theoretical topography of product design at
the turn of the century. The wide spectrum of ideas, variety
of approaches and controversial viewpoints explored by well
established writers and designers in this book, portray a
terra inferma from where a contemporary philosophy of design
is being derived.
Edited by: Tevfik Balcioglu Published jointly by: Kent
Institute of Art & Design and Middle East Technical
University. For enquiries please contact Julie Ross,
mornings only. Tel: 01634 83 00 22 ext: 401 Fax: 01634 82 03
00 Email: [log in to unmask]
* 5-7 July 1999: Matrix Conference. The United Kingdom
is acknowledged as world leader in research in design and
art practice [..it says here - Ed.]. The fourth symposium
in the successful Matrix series is to be held at Central
Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London. It will
examine the position of research in design and art practice
at the millennium with keynote speakers on major themes
affecting these disciplines and bringing together examples
of successfully completed research degrees. In the UK a
'critical mass' of research degrees has been achieved and
the symposium has parallel strands on research in design,
art (both including practice-based), cross-disciplinary art
and design, and theory and history. Sessions are to be
chaired by experienced supervisors with a total of thirty
presentations that will later be published as a 'handbook of
models for research degrees.' The fee for the three day
symposium is around 250., and 100 for students and those
giving papers. Tea and coffee are included, meals and
accommodation are not. There will be a reception at the
exhibition opening on the first day. As with earlier
symposia in the Matrix series, overall direction is shared
through an advisory panel representing significant research
groupings from across the UK including Carole Gray of Gray's
School of Art, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen and Martin
Woolley, Goldsmiths College, University of London.
Organization is under the direction of Stuart Evans and
Malcolm LeGrise at Central Saint Martins. The deadline for
presentation proposals is Friday 23, April and should not be
longer than 2 sides of A4. Proposals should be sent to:
MATRIX 4 Attn: Stewart Evans or Trish Lyons Central Saint
Martins College of Art and Design Southampton Row London
WC1B 4AP tel: 0170 514 7109 fax: 0171 514 7024 Please
contact us if you have any questions or would like to book a
place at the symposium.
* 13-14 March 1999: CROSSCURRENTS: KEY ISSUES IN
CONTEMPORARY CREATIVITY, Exeter Phoenix, Bradninch Place,
Exeter. Further info & block booking: 0117 9043427
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QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS
* Hello, I am a design consultant in Chicago, originally
from UK and with a background in engineering and design.
Some people in England may remember my first commercial
success the GEC plastic jug kettle. My recent work is based
around the principles of Coherent Research, a method of
helping companies achieve consensus on product development,
then integrate resultant market and design research
activities.
You can read about CR on my website and in the Forum page at
http://www.dhadesign.com/forum.htm The work is somewhat
radical in it's attempt to challenge the language barriers
between established disciplines, but remember it's focus is
integration and consensus.
Please let me know what you think or consider contributing
an article for the forum page on CR or a new topic
David Harris David Harris Associates 689 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago Il 60622
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CYBER NEWS: snippets from the networks
* Its called "picturespace.com." It's a new site that's
just being developed but that promises to be "Your Online
Photo Album." Holy slide show, what will they think of next?
http://www.picturespace.com
* Creativity Routemap is an interactive web-book that
highlights quality internet sites on creativity and
innovation. A comprehensive evaluation process has
highlighted over 50 sites. Each site has an short abstract
with a hot button-link direct into internet to access
information immediately. Creativity Routemap provides an
essential resource for busy executives, consultants and
educators who need to develop new ideas under pressure!.
Cost: 15 uk pounds (diskette- cross platform)
To order please email to [log in to unmask]
* "A Call for Universal Design Exemplars" Universal Design
Exemplars is a project jointly sponsored by the National
Endowment for the Arts (NEA), NEC Foundation of America, and
The Center for Universal Design in the School of Design at
North Carolina State University. Up to 50 projects that
demonstrate universal design excellence from across the
design disciplines will be included in a CD ROM of Universal
Design Exemplars. The full application package is online at:
http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/center/projects/ud_exemplars.htm
* The revised edition of the Universal Design File:
Designing for People of All Ages and Abilities has been
printed and orders are being accepted. It sells for $24.00.
Contact the Center for Universal Design at <[log in to unmask]>.
The publication is also available online at:
http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/pubs/ud_file/toc3b14.htm
* There is a very good emailed newsletter about universal
design. E-mail Elaine Ostroff at [log in to unmask] to be
included on the list.
* You might want to check out the NetG page at:
http://www.netg.com/evaluate.htm
* The new DESIGN-ENGINE.COM has been unveiled
http://www.design-engine.com
* JSTOR is a web-based electronic archive collection of
core research journals. Subject categories incl economics,
sociology, education, statistics etc. Over 70 of the
journals listed can be accessed online. The full list is
available at: http://www.jstor.ac.uk/about/field.list.html
* For anyone who has been receiving the paper-based IBM
Ergonomics Update newsletter since 1993, it's now gone over
to the web. From the Winter 1998 edition, it is published
only at IBM's Healthy Computing website at
http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/healthycomputing. Just click on
'news' and you'll find the current edition.
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DESIGN RESEARCH SOCIETY
The Design Research Society was established in 1967, reflecting
a belief among academics and professionals from different design
communities that the essence of the activity called design
was common to many disciplines.
The Society has facilitated an international design research
network in 35 countries comprising members who maintain
contact through the publications and activities of the Society.
Members are drawn from diverse backgrounds, not only from the
traditional areas of design, ranging from fine art to
engineering, but also from subjects like psychology and computer
science.
The goals of the Society are to:
o promote communication across the boundaries of all design
disciplines
o provide a forum to exchange and communicate ideas,
experience and research findings
o promote the improvement of practical design performance
in all its aspects
o contribute to the development of a coherent body of
scholarship and knowledge in design
Membership is open to individuals and costs only UK pounds 15
per year. Members are entitled to the following:
o Newsletter of the Society
o Reduced rate subscription to the journal 'Design
Studies', published in association with the Society by
Elsevier- Butterworth-Heinemann
o Occasional mailings to members
o Invitations and reduced admission charges to seminars and
conferences organised by the Society
For further details and an application form, contact the
membership secretary:
Professor Robert Jerrard, School of Design Research, Birmingham
Institute of Art and Design, University of Central England,
Corporation Street, Birmingham, UK B4 7DX
tel: +44 (0)121 331 7807 fax: +44 (0)121 333 5569
email <[log in to unmask]
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ELECTRONIC SERVICES OF THE DESIGN RESEARCH SOCIETY
The full range of services available are:
DRS ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
DRS_NEWS is the electronic newsletter of the Design Research
Society. It communicates news about research throughout the
world. It is mailed automatically at the beginning of each
month.
To have monthly copies of DRS_NEWS emailed to you automatically,
it is necessary to join the 'Design-Research' mailing list.
Send an email message to:
[log in to unmask]
(leave the 'subject' line blank ie. press 'return')
Type a message which reads:
JOIN DESIGN-RESEARCH yourFirstName yourLastName
Past copies of DRS_NEWS can also be found at
<http://www.mailbase.ac.uk/lists/design-research listed
by month.
DRS DISCUSSION LIST
DRS is the discussion list now open for unmoderated discussion
on all matters related to design research.
To monitor and/or join discussions on design research emailed to
you automatically it is necessary to join the 'DRS' mailing list.
Send an email message to:
[log in to unmask]
(leave the 'subject' line blank ie. press 'return')
Type a message which reads:
JOIN DRS yourFirstName yourLastName
Archived copies of these discussions can also be found at
<http://www.mailbase.ac.uk/lists/drs listed by month.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Further information about the Design Research Society can be
found at: <http://www.drs.org.uk>
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CONTRIBUTIONS
...and finally - for inclusion in future DRS_NEWS please send
any contributions to the editor. Email is preferred. Send to
DRS_NEWS editor:
Dr. David Durling, Director of Research, School of Art & Design,
Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2XN, UK.
Tel: +44(0)1782 294556 [direct, 24 hr.] Fax: +44(0)1782 294873
Email: <[log in to unmask]
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