Radical Innovation by Theoretical Abstraction – A Challenge for The User-centred Designer

Abstract

It is generally accepted that scientific disciplines such as psychology, sociology, and anthropology contribute beneficially to design by providing understanding of users’ needs, experiences, and desires. Arguably, however, these disciplines have more to contribute, because they include theories and models that can be applied as design frames and principles. More specifically, goal-setting, visualization, thematization, and conceptual reconfiguration are general mechanisms through which theories translate into design contributions. Actualizing radical design solutions via these mechanisms is discussed: theories provide appropriate means of abstraction, which allows ‘distance’ from user data; departure from the existing design and user paradigms toward ‘what has not yet been imagined’ is thereby possible. These suggestions draw from and are exemplified by a ship bridge design case.

Keywords:

• framing
• design theory
• design knowledge
• case study
• social theory

Acknowledgements

This study is part of the research and development programme User Experience and Usability in Complex Systems (UXUS), which is one of the research programmes of the Finnish Metals and Engineering Competence Cluster, FIMECC.

The authors would like to thank all those who have provided input to the design of future ship bridges and to this manuscript, these being Iiro Lindborg (Rolls-Royce), Eija Kaasinen (VTT), Jussi Lehtiniemi (Troll VFX), Zhang Daoxiang (Aalto University), Petri Mannonen (Aalto University), Göran Granholm (VTT), Frøy Birte Bjørneseth (Rolls-Royce), Karno Tenovuo (Rolls-Royce), and Lassi Liikkanen (SC5) among others.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mikael Wahlström

Mikael Wahlström is a senior scientist and has a PhD in Social Psychology.

Hannu Karvonen

Hannu Karvonen is a research scientist and doctoral student in Cognitive Science.

Leena Norros

Leena Norros is a research professor (retired) and has a PhD in Psychology.

Jussi Jokinen

Jussi P.P. Jokinen is a postdoc researcher at Aalto University and has a PhD in Cognitive Science.

Hanna Koskinen

Hanna Koskinen is a research scientist and a doctoral student in Arts.