Incorporating Values into the Design Process

The Case of E-Textbook Development for Estonia

Arman Arakelyan, Ilya Shmorgun, Sónia Sousa

Institute of InformaticsTallinn University

This research has been produced in the context of the LEARNMIX project (RU/3013) funded by the Archimedes Foundation.

IntroductionThere is a need to transition from artifact-centered design to intentional creation of value.

A value proposition needs to be deliberately highlighted.

Value can be seen as:● the reason for creating an artifact;● something cared for and having desirable properties.

We focus on values in the design and reflection on their presence or absence.

Design Critique and Critical Design

Design critique:● focuses on the specific details of a design, its role and

value in the environment;● helps compare alternatives and reflect on different

approaches.

Critical design:● aims to uncover opportunities for improvement;● helps ensure that values are incorporated in the design

through reflection in-action or post-action.

Design Values in LearnMix

LearnMix aims to reconceptualize e-textbooks as aggregations of professional and user-contributed content available on a wide range of devices.

The focus of the project ranges from defining what is a future e-textbook to designing specific interactions.

A set of values have been developed based on:● a range of user studies; and ● input from TEL experts.

Communicating Design Rationale

● Reflection on design rationale needs to be documented for communication purposes.

● This will help others understand the design choices and uptake them in their own work.

● Design spaces are a means of developing and documenting design rationale. The approach is based on work by MacLean et al.

Design Space as a Node-and-Link Diagram

Design Space as a Table

Q: What areof the design space for the ubiquitous computing design challenges presented in tabular formthe design challenge?

C: Improving ease and convenience of use

C: Facilitating interactions with a wide variety of devices

C: Increasing user control in the interaction

C: Selecting technologies appropriate for the design task

C: Developing a robust design practice

O: Understanding user needs

+ - + + +

O: Designing for multiple interfaces

+ + - + -

O: Designing for smartness

+ + + + +

O: Selecting appropriate technologies

+ + + + +

O: Developing ubicomp design conventions

+ - - + +

Template Design Space for Design Critique

Example Design Space for Design Critique

Template Design Space for Critical Design

Example Design Space for Critical Design

Conclusion

Design spaces are informative in discussing perceived or intended design rationale.

They are more useful for design criticism than for critical design.

● Existing artifacts can be analyzed and evaluated against a set of criteria.

● For critical design design spaces are too detailed and strict, which limits creativity. Design spaces could be used as additional inputs, but not set recommendations.