Towards integrated design and bio-science knowledge spaces: development and evaluation of tools for interdisciplinary collaborative ideation

Abstract

This thesis presents the development and evaluation of collaborative design tools for interdisciplinary idea generation. The research focuses on integrating knowledge spaces between bio-sciences and design, which presents a new paradigm in design research and biodesign, focusing on design with bio-sciences expanding design that is inspired by bio-sciences. This research is contextualised in early-stage collaboration formats such as workshops that aim at producing novel and creative product or service concepts. The proposition of this work is that creativity support tools allowing users to integrate interdisciplinary knowledge spaces accelerate collaborative idea generation. Studies conducted in this research show how contextualisation of bioscientific knowledge through narratives supports collaborative ideation process. Similarly, the work demonstrates how real-time discipline-based dialogue visualisation supports self- reflection and encourages balanced discussion. These findings are based on qualitative assessments involving users of different experimental tools. Firstly, Design x Science ideation cards and secondly, Ideation Compass – a CSCW tool that utilises natural language processing technology. These findings demonstrate the value of two novel interdisciplinary collaboration tools. This approach prioritises the collaboration experience of practitioners in ideation sessions. The findings of this research can be used to strategically determine interaction characteristics within interdisciplinary ideation contexts, particularly at the intersection of design and bio-sciences. The findings apply as facilitation principles for human-human interactions as well as for building new tools or experimental interventions between humans and computers. This work contributes to research and practice that aim at advancing the field of interdisciplinary design, biodesign and creativity support tools. Successful user centred studies with the DxS cards, Ideation Compass and principles upon which they are developed, can be used as foundations for larger scale experimentation and intervention design. Together, the contributions of this work pave way towards more co-creative and innovation driven collaboration between design and science.