A framework for studying design thinking through measuring designers’ minds, bodies and brains

This paper presents a framework for studying design thinking. Three paradigmatic approaches are described to measure design cognitive processes: design cognition, design physiology and design neurocognition. Specific tools and methods serve each paradigmatic approach. Design cognition is explored th...

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Main Authors: John S. Gero, Julie Milovanovic
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2020-01-01
Series:Design Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2053470120000153/type/journal_article
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author John S. Gero
Julie Milovanovic
author_facet John S. Gero
Julie Milovanovic
author_sort John S. Gero
collection DOAJ
description This paper presents a framework for studying design thinking. Three paradigmatic approaches are described to measure design cognitive processes: design cognition, design physiology and design neurocognition. Specific tools and methods serve each paradigmatic approach. Design cognition is explored through protocol analysis, black-box experiments, surveys and interviews. Design physiology is measured with eye tracking, electrodermal activity, heart rate and emotion tracking. Design neurocognition is measured using electroencephalography, functional near infrared spectroscopy and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Illustrative examples are presented to describe the types of results each method provides about the characteristics of design thinking, such as design patterns, design reasoning, design creativity, design collaboration, the co-evolution of the problem solution space, or design analysis and evaluation. The triangulation of results from the three paradigmatic approaches to studying design thinking provides a synergistic foundation for the understanding of design cognitive processes. Results from such studies generate a source of feedback to designers, design educators and researchers in design science. New models, new tools and new research questions emerge from the integrated approach proposed and lay down future challenges in studying design thinking.
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spelling doaj.art-9f3b13a827d24950bc5e92747c459eea2023-03-09T12:32:01ZengCambridge University PressDesign Science2053-47012020-01-01610.1017/dsj.2020.15A framework for studying design thinking through measuring designers’ minds, bodies and brainsJohn S. Gero0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9026-535XJulie Milovanovic1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8643-9812University of North Carolina, CharlotteAAU CRENAU Graduate School of Architecture NantesThis paper presents a framework for studying design thinking. Three paradigmatic approaches are described to measure design cognitive processes: design cognition, design physiology and design neurocognition. Specific tools and methods serve each paradigmatic approach. Design cognition is explored through protocol analysis, black-box experiments, surveys and interviews. Design physiology is measured with eye tracking, electrodermal activity, heart rate and emotion tracking. Design neurocognition is measured using electroencephalography, functional near infrared spectroscopy and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Illustrative examples are presented to describe the types of results each method provides about the characteristics of design thinking, such as design patterns, design reasoning, design creativity, design collaboration, the co-evolution of the problem solution space, or design analysis and evaluation. The triangulation of results from the three paradigmatic approaches to studying design thinking provides a synergistic foundation for the understanding of design cognitive processes. Results from such studies generate a source of feedback to designers, design educators and researchers in design science. New models, new tools and new research questions emerge from the integrated approach proposed and lay down future challenges in studying design thinking.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2053470120000153/type/journal_articledesign scienceprotocol analysisdesign cognitiondesign physiologydesign neurocognition
spellingShingle John S. Gero
Julie Milovanovic
A framework for studying design thinking through measuring designers’ minds, bodies and brains
Design Science
design science
protocol analysis
design cognition
design physiology
design neurocognition
title A framework for studying design thinking through measuring designers’ minds, bodies and brains
title_full A framework for studying design thinking through measuring designers’ minds, bodies and brains
title_fullStr A framework for studying design thinking through measuring designers’ minds, bodies and brains
title_full_unstemmed A framework for studying design thinking through measuring designers’ minds, bodies and brains
title_short A framework for studying design thinking through measuring designers’ minds, bodies and brains
title_sort framework for studying design thinking through measuring designers minds bodies and brains
topic design science
protocol analysis
design cognition
design physiology
design neurocognition
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2053470120000153/type/journal_article
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