Theatrical performance and scenarios can inform product design process

چکیده مقاله

Different idea generation processes are utilized in product design projects. That is, designers do whatever required -even apparently unusual paths- having access to various sources of inspiration so as not to miss any potential alternative for the ideation process. This paper reports on efforts exclusively made to examine if one of those paths, using theatrical performances & scenarios, can inform product concept design generation process for a desktop stationery set. The experience was comprised of two phases: 1) theatrical performance and 2) scenario making workshop. The first phase was done by a group of actors recruited for this study. The performances were fully videoed and numerous shots were captured to be later used for the form translation stage. The second phase was a participatory workshop incorporating potential users to develop scenarios from two sets of image cards. Initial design concepts were abstracted from the shots of the performances as well as scenarios. The concepts were then further developed so as to meet students’ needs for a desktop stationery set. For product evaluation, the concepts were then presented to a group of students from various disciplines to access if the concepts communicate their artistic and designerly values to the potential users. The results showed that performance art can be considered as an inspirational source for the form giving stage of product design process as well as offering new meanings to the design; however, design concepts originated from scenarios were regarded by the participants as more appropriate, compared to those extracted from the theatrical performances. This study has broken new ground for the concept exploration phase of product design process.