Design fiction diegetic prototyping: a research framework for visualizing service innovations

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a design fiction diegetic prototyping methodology and research framework for investigating service innovations that reflect future uses of new and emerging technologies. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on speculative fiction, the authors propose a methodology that positions service innovations within a six-stage research development framework. The authors begin by reviewing and critiquing designerly approaches that have traditionally been associated with service innovations and futures literature. In presenting their framework, authors provide an example of its application to the Internet of Things (IoT), illustrating the central tenets proposed and key issues identified. Findings The research framework advances a methodology for visualizing future experiential service innovations, considering how realism may be integrated into a designerly approach. Research limitations/implications Design fiction diegetic prototyping enables researchers to express a range of “what if” or “what can it be” research questions within service innovation contexts. However, the process encompasses degrees of subjectivity and relies on knowledge, judgment and projection. Practical implications The paper presents an approach to devising future service scenarios incorporating new and emergent technologies in service contexts. The proposed framework may be used as part of a range of research designs, including qualitative, quantitative and mixed method investigations. Originality/value Operationalizing an approach that generates and visualizes service futures from an experiential perspective contributes to the advancement of techniques that enables the exploration of new possibilities for service innovation research.

Human-centred design in industry 4.0: case study review and opportunities for future research

“…In addition to the acquisition of human needs and requirements, iterative design is also suitable for investigating “what-if” scenarios on design solutions. For instance, Kymäläinen et al ( 2017 ) and Harwood et al ( 2019 ) built fiction prototyping—video-illustrated and tangible interaction tools—to facilitate human-centred perception and cognition of the future potentials of products and/or services. This so-called design fiction—an interactive and tangible approach—evaluates alternative design solutions or criticizes existing ones (Knutz et al, 2014 ) before they are manufactured and/or delivered to customers, which enhances the robustness of iterative design by deeply understanding human experience.…”

“…In the last group of research interest, three studies present experience-driven approaches that visualize design scenarios (RR4) regarding future possibilities to exploit human experience. Based on design fiction, both Kymäläinen et al ( 2017 ) and Harwood et al ( 2019 ) demonstrated the usefulness of the video-illustrated prototype in avoiding the difficulty of interpreting abstract verbal descriptions of new design. This method enables designers to interactively envisage a spectrum of “what if” scenarios towards human experience that may then be explored by using the range of other design methods: focus groups, interviews, and questionnaires.…”

Former aux compétences du xxie siècle à l’aide du design

“…Ces processus de pensée complexe amènent l'apprenant à appréhender une situation concrète (Bonnardel, 2006). L'activité de conception mobilise la pensée prospective (apprendre à anticiper) qui permet de travailler dans une logique de scénarios (Harwood, Garry & Belk, 2020) et donc d'évaluer les possibles et d'à opérer les choix adaptés en regard des contraintes.…”

When Design Fiction Meets Geospatial Sciences to Create a More Inclusive Smart City

“…[57] Thanks to design fiction, future possibilities could be explored [58] using "speculative design" methods that draw on creative practice [59]. In our research, the rationale for using design fiction is two-pronged: first, it has allowed us to generate debate among participants in the two workshops [60,61], second, design fiction is a very interesting and efficient way of developing prototypes that help participants to collectively project themselves in a speculative future [58,59]. In addition, Nägele et al [62] clearly demonstrate how design fiction constitutes a method and offers tools that are perfectly suited to users in vulnerable situations.…”