ComputerHuman Interaction Spring 2013 Designing Exploratory Design Games

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Designing Exploratory Design Games: A Framework for Participation in Participatory Design? Eva Brandt Miriam Zisook Personal Health Informatics (PHI) zisook. m@husky. neu. edu Northeastern University 1

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Take away • Participatory design involves end users as members of the design team • Game play can be a useful way of framing participation by users and designers Northeastern University 2

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Design is a Social Process • Communication, negotiation, and compromise are important parts of the process Northeastern University 3

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 If design isn’t participatory… • Users have to be able to give a complete account of what they need and how they work when asked on the spot • This is really unlikely, but often serves as the underlying assumption in design research Northeastern University 4

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Exploratory Design Games • • Concept Design Exchange Perspective Negotiation and Work Flow Oriented Scenario Oriented Northeastern University 5

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Concept Design Games • • Organize and structure the team Frame cooperation Set goals and agendas Examples: Silent Game and Delta Game Northeastern University 6

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Exchange Perspectives Games • Combining elements that normally do not fit together • Examples: Exquisite corps, Nordvest Game Northeastern University 7

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Negotiation and Work-Flow • Understanding Existing Work Practice • Example: Organizational kit game Northeastern University 8

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Scenario Oriented Game • Presents a use situation that is deliberately incomplete • “The Magic If” • Enact/role play a scenario using props/artifacts • Example: Dynabook scenario game Northeastern University 9

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Games Help Understand Users • Get a common understanding of the user through participatory design game • Example game: User Game, Personas Northeastern University 10

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Brainstorming Games • Future Workshops – Critique Phase – Fantasy Phase – Implementation Phase • Landscape Game – Create context for personas Northeastern University 11

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Why Use Games? • Flexible • Lots of ways to use them Northeastern University 12

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Why Use Games? • Establish common understanding and constraints • Ingredients and structure for establishing common ground Northeastern University 13

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Why Use Games? • Supports exploration and collaboration • Levels the playing field • Fun, informal and engaging Northeastern University 14

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Critique + • Great collection of ideas for games • Strong case for how they can help a design team and users gel into a cohesive team Northeastern University 15

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Critique ∆ • Not enough concrete examples of how these games could lead to more tangible positive outcomes in the design process Northeastern University 16

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Extending the Idea • Follow up with examples of games within the broader design process • How those games led to design characteristics and decisions Northeastern University 17

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Let’s play Exquisite Corps • Paper has 4 sections • One teammate draws at a time for 1 minute • Marks connect edge of your section to next person’s Northeastern University 18

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Let’s play Exquisite Corps • • Goal: Draw your target user Head: What do they think about? Torso and arms: What do they do? Legs: What are their goals, where are they trying to go? • Feet: What/who supports and helps them? Northeastern University 19

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Takeaways from the game? • Did you think about anything new about your user? • Were you surprised by any of your teammate’s ideas? Northeastern University 20

Computer/Human Interaction Spring 2013 Using Games in the future • Do any of the games in the paper seem useful for your projects? • Have you thought about including the end user in your project? Will you now? Northeastern University 21