Design Heuristics for Furniture Design and Tool for Model Making

I hereby confirm that the research work presented in the thesis titled 'Design Heuristics for Furniture Design (DHfFD) and Tool for Model Making (TfMM)' is my own research work, completed under the supervision of Prof. dr. This is to confirm that Mr. Supradip Das has submitted original and bona fide research work entitled 'Design Heuristics for Furniture Design (DHfFD) and Tool for Model Making (TfMM)' to the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati for the award of Doctor of Philosophy in Design.

Table 2.1 Classification of physical prototypes in design research……..….16 Table 2.2 Taxonomy of models proposed by Pei et al……….……….….…18 Table 2.3 Taxonomy of prototype proposed by Pei et al……………….…..19 Table 2.4 Different types of prototypes and

Research Clarification

Research Rationale
Research Motivation
Initial Reference Model and Initial Impact Model
Aim and Objectives
Scope of Research Enquiry
Research Methodology
Structure of the dissertation
Summary

In general, novice designers have problems with awareness of the scope and purposes of prototypes (Deininger, Daly, Sienko, & Lee, 2017). The purpose of the phase is to identify the research objective, the initial reference model and the initial impact model.

Figure 1.2 Innovation iceberg (Huber et al., 2014)

Literature Review

Classification of Physical Models and Prototypes in

Visualization model Appearance Control model Production tool Process model Production process (Houde & Hill, 1997) Role prototype Product role. Focused vs. Comprehensive: Focused prototypes include one or a few attributes of prototypes.

Table 2.2 Taxonomy of models proposed by Pei et al.

Attributes of prototypes

In relation to the filtering dimensions, the manifestation dimensions provide the initial direction for prototype construction for physical prototypes. The three dimensions of manifestation are material (the medium of construction), resolution (the level of detail), and scope (the range of what is captured to manifest).

Figure 2.3 Purposes of prototypes (Houde & Hill, 1997)

Prototype as Boundary Object

A series of iterative qualitative-quantitative explorations produces prototypes and prototypes at the end of the innovation cycle. Collaborative Prototyping: Collaborative prototyping is a participatory design process where end users design and prototype a custom product or service together with the design team (Terwiesch & Loch, 2004).

Figure 2.5 Iterative prototyping process (Mascitelli, 2000) Beckley et al. (Beckley, Paredes, & Lopetcharat, 2012) proposed the iterative qualitative-quantitative research process (IQQR) resembling the formerly presented process by Ma

Protocept

Prototyping for Knowledge

Creativity Perspective
Naïve physics
Tacit knowledge

Research experience in the analytical phase enhances creative thinking in the synthetic phase (Owen, 2007). Tacit knowledge is defined as information or content that exists only in the mind of the knower.

Figure 2.8 General model of generating and gathering knowledge Owen extended the model and presented it in the context of product design (Figure 2.9)

Interplay of Concept Generation & Prototyping

Free sketching and prototyping allowed designers to iterate on design ideas with both tools, generating more ideas and exploring the concepts in more depth. These results highlight how the interaction between sketching and prototyping can increase idea generation efficiency, especially design creativity.

Novice Designers’ issues in Prototyping

Sketching alone was associated with the generation of increasingly diverse ideas in the early stages of product design activity, suggesting the exploration of a wider design space and likely contributing to the higher novelty of their final designs. Designers who only prototyped tested their ideas early on through fabrication, which encouraged more viable and aesthetic ideas.

Concept Generation in Design

Novice Designers’ issues in Concept Generation

Classification of Design Tool
Design Attributes for Card-Based Tool

Card-based design tools have grown in popularity to disseminate design research knowledge and make it usable in the design process. Customization: Card-based tools should allow the designer to customize the cards according to their goals.

Supports for Concept Generation

Existing supports for concept generation have the following issues: 1) unstructured or intuitive (Gero, Jiang, & Williams) problems with acquisition (Ilevbare, Probert, & Phaal) difficulty in assessing the concepts (Al-samarraie &. The design heuristic approach uses domain- specific generic abstraction, promotes more successful concept generation and is based on empirical research with novice designers and practitioners (S. Yilmaz, Seifert, & Gonzalez, 2010).

Heuristics in Design

Design heuristics also use an existing mechanism (approach to finding a solution) in a new way (S. R. Daly, Yilmaz, Christian, Seifert, & Gonzalez, 2012). The above design heuristics are classified into two categories (Hwang & Park Design heuristics without pre-defined intentions are considered.

Processes and Supports for Prototyping

Jessica Menold and her team (Menold, Simpson, & Jablokow, 2016) proposed a theoretical framework for prototyping called Prototype for X or PFX (Figure 2.17) to support the product design flow (Menold et al., 2016). Later, Marcel Breuer designed the B3 tubular steel furniture chair, also known as Wassily (Figure 2.20), and it became part of the modern classics. Autodesk recently unveiled the world's first chair made using Artificial Intelligence, designed by Philippe Starck for Kartell (Figure 2.24).

Figure 2.12 shows the process proposed by Yu et al. based on the observation from the behavioural study of engineers and designers while prototyping

Furniture Design in India

Furniture Design Education in India

IKEA, Nilkamal, Damro, Godrej and Boyce, HNI Corporation, Durian, Featherlite, Praxis, Wipro Furniture, Home Retail, Forte Furniture Product, Furniturewala, Millenium Lifestyle, Pepperfry, Urban Ladder, Geeken and Evok are the key players in the furniture market in India. Although many institutes do not specialize in furniture design, they teach furniture design as an elective and encourage students to pursue thesis projects in furniture design. Bombay, Department of Design-IIT Guwahati, Department of Design-IIT Hyderabad, National Institute of Design, National Institute of Fashion Technology, School of Planning and Architecture, Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University and Indian Institute of Craft and Design (IICD) ).

Figure 2.25 Demand for furniture in India (KPMG Advisory Services Pvt Ltd, 2014)

Insight on Supports

According to Shah, Vargaz-Hernandez and Smith's effectiveness metric (Shah et al., 2003), quantity refers to "the total number of distinct concepts generated by an individual over the entire time allotted for the given design task." According to the effectiveness metric of Dean et al. (Dean et al., 2006), originality refers to "the degree to which a concept is not only rare, but also clever, imaginative, or surprising." According to the effectiveness measures of Dean et al. (Dean et al., 2006), applicability refers to “the degree to which a concept can be easily applied and does not violate known constraints”.

Figure 2.28 Proposed model of prototyping

Final Reference Model

Summary

Section A-Prototype and Concept discusses the prototype's role, properties, prototype as boundary object and the interaction between concept and prototype. Section B Supports for Beginning Designers focused on the classifications and characteristics of the supports available in design research. Section C- Furniture Design reflects the importance of research with chair design and gives an overview of the furniture design scenario in India.

Development of Supports

Specifications for Supports

Specifications for Concept Generation Support
Specifications for Prototyping Support

This context uses Ulrich and Eppinger's definition of specification as "requirements that must be met by a product that enable the designer to define and understand the problem he is trying to solve". E Design heuristics is the most effective concept generation tool that uses a domain-specific generic abstraction of design elements. S Support for concept generation should be based on heuristics using a domain-specific generic abstraction of design elements.

Table 3.1 Specifications for concept generation support Problem Statement:

Function-Behaviour-Structure Ontology

The plotting of Function (F), Behavior (B), and Structure (S) in a scale of Obvious (O), Paradigm Preserving (PP), and Paradigm Modifying (PM) is illustrated in Figure 3-7. The behavior of encapsulating and enjoying personal space using the foldable, flexible structure is paradigm preservation, as using flexible, foldable materials to make a chair is a matter of adaptation.

Existing Methods for Extracting Design Heuristics

Systematic research of existing design heuristics and their development clarifies that design heuristics are primarily based on heuristics evident in successful innovative products. A list of 77 design heuristics was derived from a detailed study and analysis of more than 400 award-winning products (Yilmaz, Daly, Seifert, & Gonzalez, 2016). The design heuristics for transformational design theory, which describes principles for transformation and the facilitator for the transformative design construct, were proposed based on the analysis of patents, analogies from nature, and existing products (Weaver, Wood, Crawford, & Jensen, 2010). (Singh et al., 2009).

Heuristics Extraction and Analysis Process

The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and Metropolitan Arts Press Ltd. www.good-designawards.com) Elle Deco International. Knoll (www.knoll.com) Manufacturer of office systems, seating and storage furniture Vitra (www.vitra.com) Manufacturer of the renowned. https://www.cassina.com/en). Artek (www.artek.fi/en) Manufacture of furniture and accessories designed by Finnish masters and leading designers.

Table 3.4 Published compendium of furniture design (chair)

Form, Material and Processes in Furniture Design

Alaa El Anssary extended the model and provided three different contexts that influence visual, tactile and structural features (Figure 3.15). Since the target tools focus on appearance and discussion on visual attributes, related models are relevant in this context. Material characteristics such as hardness, thickness, transparency, density, color, etc., develop visual tension between elements and create harmony within the three-dimensional form.

Figure 3.14 The combination of form, material properties and process impact sensory elements of the product (Anssary, 2006)

Existing Supports for Material Selection in Design

Since the development of design heuristics for the furniture (Chair) provided a complete list with function, behavior and structure as the dominant feature, the research continued the structure dominant groups to develop a modeling tool. 2010) developed an Expressive-Sensory Atlas to teach the sensory aspects of materials (Figure 3.17). Kesteren et al., 2007) Apart from the published paper-based tools, some databases are available, such as Cambridge Engineering Selector (CES), Materials ConneXion, Designing Site, ASM Material Handbook, and MatWeb Material Property Data.

Figure 3.17 Expressive-Sensorial Atlas by Rognoli (Rognoli, 2010) To enhance user interaction through adequate feedback and pleasant emotional experience incorporating sensory aspects of materials, Kesteren et al

Tool for Model-Making (TfMM)

Making a set of forms
Making a set of standard model-making materials
Making a set of standard model-making processes…
Making a set of standard model-making tools and
Making a set of finishing materials
Exploring multiple materials for a specific form
Making form-material-process matrix
Framing a structure for the TfMM card

In this research phase, the 48 different shapes selected in section 3.10.1 were constructed with three different materials. Based on the activity done in section 3.10.7, two technicians and three undergraduate students made a form-material-process matrix inspired by Ashby and Johnson (Ashby & Johnson, 2009). After completing the activities mentioned in sections 3.10.7 and 3.10.8, two technicians and three university students framed the structure of the tool.

Table 3.8 showcases the adapted processes.

Summary

Assessing the Impact of DHfFD and TfMM

Research Methodology

Participants
Design Brief
Stimulus
Experimental Procedure
Concept Documentation
Survey Questions
Coding
Quantity Analysis
Originality Analysis
Implementability Analysis

At the beginning of the experimental treatment phase, the DHfFD instrument was introduced by means of a lecture. 1 = Not effective, 5 = Very effective) Q5 Was there a need to explain any basic concepts. during the application of the new tool. The coders also examined the evidence of the use of DHfFD for the corresponding concepts generated by the participants during the experimental stage and assessed the map's usefulness.

Figure 4.1 Experimental execution diagram for the validation of DHfFD 4.3.1 Participants

Qualitative Impact Assessment of DHfFD Cards: Results

Major Findings from Phase II
Major Findings from Phase III

In Phase III, during the recording phase, participants were asked several questions to understand how the participants perceived the DHfFD tool. It is clear from the results and answers that the tool is useful in creative concept generation, and in general the perspective of the participants towards the DHfFD tool is positive, which reflects on the histograms of answers to the questions asked in phase III . Along with the positive reactions to the tool, some valuable pieces of feedback were registered during the discussion with the participants regarding the tool.

Figure 4.9 Example concepts with evident combined DHfFD heuristics The presence of heuristics is observed in maximum concepts

Quantitative Impact Assessment of DHfFD Cards

Originality Analysis Results
Implementability Analysis Results
Discussion on DHfFD Effectiveness

Statistical tests were also performed to measure the significance of the difference between the mean originality score in the control and experimental phase. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed to check the statistical significance of the difference between the mean implementability score in the control and experimental treatment phases. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test reflects a statistically significant difference between the control and experimental treatment for the mean implementability score of the participants (Z = -4.62, p < 0.001).

Figure 4.12 Distribution of the number of concepts in the control and experimental treatment phases

Research Methodology

Participants
Prototyping Task
Stimulus
Experimental Procedure
Survey Questions
Coding
Appearance Model Quality Score

During the TfMM usability survey in Phase III, participants were asked a set of questions to understand the perceived effects of the TfMM tool. At the beginning of the experimental treatment phase, the TfMM tool was presented with a lecture. Coders explored evidence of TFMM application to relevant appearance models developed by participants during the experimental phase.

Figure 4.17 Experimental execution diagram for the validation of TfMM Phase I provided a reference measurement of prototypes in a control condition without any support

Qualitative Impact Assessment of TfMM Cards: Results

Major Findings from Phase II
Major Findings from Phase III

The Cumulative Occurrence Model Quality Score (CAMQS) was assigned according to the procedure outlined in Figure 4.20. The occurrence models in this phase were significantly improved with TfMM support in terms of the following aspects, as mentioned in Figure 4.22. Comprehension: A few participants were unable to relate the elements of the selected chair to the materials, processes and tools.

Figure 4.21 Appearance models from phase I 4.8.2 Major Findings from Phase II

Quantitative Impact Assessment of TfMM Cards: Results

Prototyping
International Recognition

DHfFD and TfMM were introduced in long-term thesis projects to check the outcome of the projects after applying the tools in combination. The side view of the final design looked like the dot-connect game, which inspired to name the chair 'DOT'. Design for human variability is the unique feature of the design, which provides maximum comfort to people.