‘Rhetoric’ in the design process: The role of prop-based virtual reality storytelling in user-centred product conceptual design

Abstract

This paper explores how prop-based virtual reality storytelling (VR&P-ST) can enhance user-centred product conceptual design (UCPCD) by the perspective of ‘computing with things’. The study introduces the concept of ‘rhetoric’ and the framework of ‘epistemic objects’ to explore the value of VR&P-ST. The study provides VR&P-ST experience for designers through VR passive haptics and proposes ten hypotheses. Through data analysis, nine hypotheses were accepted, and one hypothesis was rejected. This study provides a new solution in the field of empathic methods of UCPCD. Additionally, this study verifies that VR&P-ST can improve the fidelity and historical perception of conceptual design objects and neutralize ambiguity as the ‘rhetoric’. These three characteristics make VR&P-ST have a positive impact on the designer’s engagement, which in turn improves the designer’s evaluation and experience of the design process to a certain extent, but it still has limitations.

Keywords:

• Storytelling
• user-centred design
• virtual reality
• tangible interaction
• conceptual design

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Chao Chen for system testing help.

Disclosure statement

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available at https://doi.org/10.57760/sciencedb.11984.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Qing Gong

Qing Gong received the B.S. degree inIndustry DesignfromZhejiang University in2019. Sheis currently working toward the Ph.D. degree inDesign Science withthe College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University. Her research interests include virtual reality, and traditional culture and digital creativity.

Zihao Wang

Zihao Wang received the B.S. degree inIndustry DesignfromNortheast Forestry Universityin2022. Heis currently working toward the M.S. degree inIndustrial Design Engineeringwiththe School of Software Technology, Zhejiang University. His research interests include human-computer interaction, and traditional culture and digital creativity.

Yucong Chen

Yucong Chen received the B.S. degree inLandscape ArchitecturefromZhejiang Universityin2021. Sheis currently working toward the M.S. degree inDesign Science withthe College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University. Her research interests include human-computer interaction, and traditional culture and digital creativity.

Ning Zou

Ning Zou is an associate professor in College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. He received a doctorate in Zhejiang University-Hong Kong Polytechnic University joint PhD project and completed postdoctoral research in Zhejiang University. His research focuses on intelligent design, product innovative design, ergonomics, and traditional culture and digital creativity.