DesignSpace

Observations, Theories, and Constraints

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DesignSpace investigates the use of computer based tools for design, both generally (collaboration, analysis, database access, expert systems, simulation, marketing research, etc.) and with specific attention to design model creation and manipulation. DesignSpace takes a CAD centered approach, where all design activity surrounds a computer-based, virtual space model of both the problem and potential solutions.

Observations

1. Designers like to work with their hands.
   Some designers such as architects and artists have not embraced CAD for this reason.
2. Traditional computer interfaces impede creativity.
3. Designers need help dealing with large quantities of information.
4. Current CAD implementations are poor, since they struggle with marketing driven feature lists, instead of observing and resolving the hard problems.
5. Design tools need integration.
   Designers spend too much time task switching, translating models, using different interfaces.
6. Visualization is important.
7. Designs and design issues are difficult to communicate.
8. The orthographic documentation standard for communicating design is outdated when the design model itself is done in three dimensions.

Theories

1. By providing direct and dexterous access to the design medium, designers may use their hands to help contemplate, communicate, and manipulate more fluidly, as with sketching and doodling on paper.
2. By hiding the machine interface (the physical barrier between the user and the data), designers may gain more confidence with computer based media and allow creativity to flow with less impedance.
3. By creating a superset human-computer interaction metaphor with an additional dimension, all design activity can be integrated. Three dimensional activities can not be well implemented with a 2D interface, while 2D activities are simply implemented with a constraint in 3D. This theory requires a major paradigm shift for all computing.

Constraints

1. Provide dexterous manipulation; let designer's get their hands on the problem.
2. Allow free-form manipulation in the same environment as constrained manipulations.
3. Be comfortable and usable for all tasks, all day, everyday.
   • do not occlude or compromise the designer's vision.
   • do not remove designer from their design studio (no VR).
   • do not constrain interaction to single mode operations.

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