The evaluation of impact of collaborative research on robust design methodologies and methods is important to both academic and industry stakeholders. This paper introduces a framework for impact evaluation which combines the broader framework adopted for the academic research impact assessment with the organisation viewpoint centred on business results, process improvement and product development teams capability improvement. A large scale empirical study conducted with evidence from technical reports on workplace projects from an automotive OEM proved the validity of the proposed framework.

This work investigates how the concept of affordance should be revised following the digital evolution. Starting from a review of the literature about affordance, the most acknowledged constructs are compared with the variegated definitions of digital artefacts. The paper proposes a definition of digital affordance, overcoming the inconsistencies identified in the literature. The study is enriched by a series of interviews to investigate the final users' perception of affordance. Finally, the paper shows the application of the proposed model with a case study related to food delivery services.

This paper provides an overview and appraisal of the International Design Engineering Annual (IDEA) challenge - a virtually hosted design hackathon run with the aim of generating a design research dataset that can provide insights into design activities at virtually hosted hackathons. The resulting dataset consists of 200+ prototypes with over 1300 connections providing insights into the products, processes and people involved in the design process. The paper also provides recommendations for future deployments of virtual hackathons for design research.

Innovation is a key driver for product success. Engineering design and lean start-up are prominent innovation methodologies well accepted and widely used. There is a lack of availability of pragmatic reflections for innovators to put into practice. The paper addresses this need by undertaking a comparative analysis of the two methodologies, using three case studies of medical device innovation. Directions and insights on how innovators may employ one or both approaches at different stages of their innovation are presented.

Design thinking does not have a consensually defined construct in the academic literature. This foundational fragility hinders theory building in the field. This study addresses this gap by providing a construct of design thinking following guidelines for developing theory-building instruments. We propose a non-normative, comprehensive construct composed of a conceptual definition and a subset of properties that portray tangible design thinking expressions. The proposed construct aims to provide a grounded foundation to support the advancement of design thinking theory building and testing.

This paper highlights a recently identified by the community perspective of design research, so far described as “inaccessible”, discusses the potential of “designerly” way of approaching it in order to let designers excavate tacit knowledge from their own finished projects. We frame demonstrators as a category of design outcomes that can be a great source of such knowledge. Skills of empathy and intuition are called crucial for researchers to position themselves inside the design system looking inwards.

This study presents a coding scheme for design protocols that is derived from Triple Process Theory postulating the existence of three categories of cognitive processes: spontaneous, deliberate, and metacognitive. We applied the coding scheme to think-aloud protocols of designers engaged in an open design task. Results show that all three types occur during designing. The scheme we propose has the potential to ground accounts of Triple Process Theory for design in empirical studies. We explore the relation between design sessions outcomes and shifts between cognitive processes.

Design process modelling is well-founded in fields of mechanical engineering, and product design and development but not in Building Design (BD). This paper looks at the selection process when choosing appropriate models for specific BD processes. The paper adapts process model selection criteria from Trauer's work and combines it with anecdotal evidence from the authors to select these models. The selection criteria were ranked, categorised, and applied to BD processes explained. Process models related to each selection criteria were then selected from backward snowballing of literature.

Designing accessible and inclusive buildings is essential if they are to provide enjoyable and inspiring experiences for all their occupants. Research revealed that many architectural design professionals perceive a lack of awareness of the aspects to consider when designing to be a limiting factor in the uptake of Inclusive Design. By involving expert stakeholders this study provides evidence for the demand to create an Inclusive Design Canvas, a strategic design template offering an educational springboard for building industry professionals to embed Inclusive Design in the design process.

Process modelling (PM) is used to support designers by providing guidance on what needs to be done. Change processes in development organizations accompany introduction of new procedures, new methods (also digital form), tools that have to integrated into existing processes. Objective of this paper is to provide guidance to designers in selecting the appropriate PM language to support structured changes in processes. Requirements are derived from frequent change needs in SME and a PM morphology is provided assisting the selection and use of suitable PM languages for change processes.

Artificial Intelligence offers a wide variety of capabilities that can potentially address people's needs and desires in their specific contexts. This pilot study presents a collaborative method using a deck of AI cards tested with 58 production, AI, and information science students, and experts from an accessible media agency. The results suggest that, with the support of the method and AI cards, participants can ideate and reach conceptual AI solutions. Such conceptualisations can contribute to a more inclusive integration of AI solutions in society.

Immersive technologies have an increasing use in professional training. However, the usability of applications has limits due to a lack of consideration of end users in the design of these new supports. This paper reviews the literature and discovers that few approaches offer to include different collaborators' work, or the end user, in the design process. This study proposes a conceptual framework design for immersive professional training (IPT) and its application in the textile industry.

Industry 4.0 is expected to change competitiveness of manufacturing firms. However, to completely achieve this goal, firms should manage barriers and complexity issues that my hinder its adoption or its effects. For this reason, the study explores, through a literature review, whether and how design theory may be a supporting theory to manage Industry 4.0 adoption and implementation to maximise the opportunities and minimise the risks. The results shows that these research questions require a design approach to innovate not only adopting technologies but reinventing the business practices.

The aim of this study was to compare behaviours in distributed design teams today to the existing literature to see if previously identified challenges faced by distributed teams have been overcome. Recordings of teams’ online idea sharing sessions were transcribed and split into idea sharing instances (units). A scoring system analysed the effectiveness of each unit. Having a clear structure with formal idea discussion, an assertive leader, and no time limits led to higher scores. Whilst instances of informal speaking and the wide variety of tools used had no link to the unit scores.

Since project managers still face problems in managing interorganizational R&D projects, it is a promising approach to manage these projects project-culturally-aware. However, an important prerequisite for a project-culture-aware management is that the involved individual organizations pursue a collaborative strategy. Therefore, our article provides a conceptual approach including a new tool, the Collaborative Iron Triangle, which supports both project sponsors and managers in different phases of the collaboration process to pursue a collaborative strategy in interorganizational R&D projects.

Agile has its roots in software, improving the pace and quality of development projects. The application of Agile to hardware is less mature, and anecdotal evidence suggests there are specific challenges in this space. Based upon qualitative interviews with organizations working simultaneously across hardware and software applications, this paper presents three key challenges we identified. We also document several useful adjustments to Agile practice which provide a toolset that teams can use to more successfully apply Agile to hardware projects.

Neglecting challenges of distributed collaboration can lead to significant efficiency and effectiveness losses in agile, distributed development teams. The EDiT method provides support for improving distributed collaboration of development teams. To ensure acceptance, applicability, and contribution to success in industrial development practice, it is necessary to validate the EDiT method. The goal of this contribution is the development of a process model for early and incremental validation of the EDiT method in the field finally leading to a validation of the EDiT method itself.

An innovative design process which has been conducted under the restrictions during the covid-19 pandemic is in focus in this study. Visits were banned so user-centred design activities were particularly challenged by the necessity to meet and work online. The purpose of the study is to present and reflect on how user-centred design was done under those conditions. The potential users, the reindeer herders, were merely contacted online, the user investigation were supported by for example using videos and storytelling. Also, the final concept is presented.

Successful research and development requires interdisciplinary collaboration, often across organisational boundaries and for extended timeframes, such as in innovation networks or ecosystems. Open Organisation (OO) research can support collaboration and knowledge exchange in such situations. It builds on established concepts of Open Innovation through enhancing the exchange of knowledge by the exchange of humans. This paper contributes to OO research by presenting an OO lifecycle framework, which analyses evolving organisational and collaboration characteristics and resulting management needs.

The objectives and scope of a construction project is defined in the early design stage, the fuzzy front-end. This stage is crucial for project risk management and success, but traditional risk management tend to focus on operational risk in later design stages. This action research study leverages co-design methodology and the project management actuality perspective to tailor a risk management process for the fuzzy front-end of construction projects in a large client organization. The co-design process help enchance stakeholder value perception of the designed solution.