A user-centred collective system design approach for Smart Product-Service Systems: A case study on fitness product design

Abstract

Emerging technologies have significantly contributed to the evolution of traditional product-service systems (PSS) into smart PSS. This transformation demands a fresh perspective and a more inventive design approach. In response, this study proposes a new User-Centred Collective System Design (CSD) framework and process for Smart PSS design, aiming to enhance stakeholder engagement during the entire design process, thus promoting highly effective and creative design solutions. A case study, titled ‘Next-G Smart Fitness PSS Design’, was carried out to test and implement this approach, contrasting the results of the CSD method with a designer-centred method. The outcomes showed a marked improvement in product novelty and user desirability of the design outcomes when using the proposed design framework. The proposed CSD framework could offer beneficial insights and user-centric viewpoints for practitioners dealing with complex challenges linked to smart PSS design.

Keywords:

• Design methodology
• product service systems
• user-centred design, collaborative design
• design process

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Zhibin Zhou from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Noah Cowit from University of Colorado Boulder for their helpful comments and all the participants and the reviewers for all the constructive feedback.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Research Centre for Future (Caring) Mobility (P-ID: P0042701), University’s Strategic Importance Project (P-ID: P0036851), School of Design Collaborative Research Funding HKPolyU (2021–2023) (P-ID: P0035075), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (62302263).

Notes on contributors

Cong Fang

Cong Fang is a Ph.D. student at the School of Design, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Her research focuses on the interdisciplinary area of human-computer interaction, human-AI collaboration, and creative design methods.

Wei Liu

Wei Liu is Full Professor of Design Engineering and Innovation at King’s College London with extensive teaching and research experience across design, engineering, and management. Wei earned her PhD at the University of Cambridge and was Visiting Fellow at Harvard University. She is recognized as Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in the UK and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Huan Lin

Huan Lin is a Ph.D. candidate at the School of Computer Science, Zhejiang University. Her research focuses on the interdisciplinary area of product innovation design, computer-aided design, human factors, and user experience design.

Yuge Qi

Yuge Qi is a postgraduate student at the School of Software, Zhejiang University with a research focus on user research and product design.

Xin Tian

Xin Tian is a Ph.D. candidate at the School of Computer Science, Zhejiang University. Her research interests are in design thinking, design innovation and management.

Yi Huang

Yi Huang is a Ph.D. student at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol with a research interest on intelligent manufacturing and healthcare.

Stephen Jia Wang

Stephen Jia Wang is Full Professor and Scheme Leader of Master of Design at School of Design, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The focus of his research and practise is the exploration of new design methods, technology possibilities and related curriculum development in the field of innovative design.