Human Dynamics and Design for the Development of Contemporary Societies

AHFE International

Accelerating Open Access Science in Human Factors Engineering and Human-Centered Computing

Human Dynamics and Design for the Development of Contemporary Societies

book-cover

Editors: Daniel Raposo, Nuno Martins, Daniel Br, ão

Topics: Human Dynamics

Publication Date: 2023

ISBN: 978-1-958651-57-5

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1003986

Articles

Emotion in the communication process and the power of understanding the message

The mechanisms we find in a communication process reveal to us a field of empathy, fundamental in a structured system of reading and interpreting concepts.In this way, homeostasis regulates our organism in a structured context and tries to maintain an emotional balance in the face of a world of prolific content. Thus, the conditions of environment and language reveal levels of interpretation to the messages consumed daily and in various conditions. And, in tune with the phonemes and graphemes, we find an association of meaning for the writing of information, poetry and, other media. However, the difficulty of interpreting and decoding the concepts implies a field of communicational skills knowledge levels, whose impact self-reveals trust in the receivers of these messages. How can these messages cause empathy in their receivers and enhance learning and knowledge levels to change attitudes and behaviors in a sophisticated environment? It is certain that the way of seduction, through careful communication, in whose approach of form, structure, and color, easily manipulates the presence of the word in a game of attraction and manipulation in the field such as information design. It is in the field of empathy that we witness a significant reduction in the reading of the contents and the understanding of the associated concepts. A clear approach to the world of abstract ideas and a certain egotism is demonstrated, at certain moments even with some aggressiveness, in whose lack of empathy no levels of generosity or collaboration are seen between the words spoken and the words that include said content.The broadening of the media and its general dispersal potentiates a varied manipulation of information and interests. However, the creation of empathy in the face of what is suggested and pronounced shows an artificiality in the way messages are associated with emotions, that is, they reveal themselves to be devoid of meaning.In this way, an approach is intended, reflecting the contemporary world, through the literacy of emotion in the context of verbal and non-verbal communication.In an effective communication process, we have emotions in our favor. And, in this context, we are faced with a set of tools with which nature has endowed us, in order to, create bonds of trust and thus achieve group harmony. Thus, considering the human evolutionary process, we find effective communication based on a message, whose origin is a common communication channel, a common language, and a genuine message, creating empathy in the receiver of the message, and provoking a reaction of complicity and connection to its content and context. If the message's origin has an emotional bond with the sender, it will certainly have a generous and collaborative impact on its receiver. On the contrary, a message whose emotion is reduced to thought, logic and strategy, aims to achieve in the receivers only information and a reaction of caution, selfishness and individualism, causing a social distancing from the group, enhancing the lack of empathy with the other.

Silvia Rala, Ana Paula Gaspar

Conference Proceedings

A Synaesthetic Design Study: a driver for the Perception of Colour on Textile Biomaterials Selection

The Selection of Materials is a field containing a group of criteria necessary to choose materials applied to the Design project. Several criteria were associated with this selection process, and just some of them were considered for the study (such as aesthetic properties related to colour and texture; intangible requirements like emotions, perceptions, and stimulus; and some specific biological properties connected to biomaterials in the textile context). The study aims to understand the visual colour stimulus of biomaterials from the perspective of the Synaesthetic Design phenomenon. The designer has a pertinent role in understanding the mechanism around social desires (environmental protection, impact of materials, transparency, traceability, and attractive products). Biomaterials are produced from various sources of feedstocks such as residues, wastes, and sub-products of raw materials. In these cases, the transformation of the materials is crucial to becoming valid on the market and desirable to the consumer. Thus, how can the designer create value opportunities using these materials? The literature review is a methodology integrated into this study through the addition of interdisciplinary areas that seek to generate systematic and holistic based reflections. The designer needs guidance on biomaterials and their visual interpretations, which are linked to emotions or sensorial desires of human behaviour and feelings to create empathy with them - specific materials based on descriptive criteria connected to the Selection of Materials field. Therefore, the study hopes to facilitate the growth of biomaterial application by offerings insight about these concepts and consideration on eventual opportunities for creating experiences and innovative products based on a thoughtful and informed selection, contributing to a deeper understanding of biomaterial and these properties within textiles, towards a Circular Bioeconomy view.

Pedro Ferreira, Gabriela Forman

Conference Proceedings

Systematic design and construction strategy of subway public art based on urban spirit

AbstractWith the acceleration of urbanization around the world, subway space has become a special and necessary public space. The complexity of the subway environment, the diversity of passenger needs, and the integration of urban culture have brought new problems to the future development of subway space. Development is increasingly using design as a means to address social development issues. This paper conducts online or field research on representative subway stations in New York, Stockholm, Shenzhen and other cities, and discusses the feasibility of subway public art design based on urban spirit and the necessity of systemic design thinking intervention research. The material carrier of publicity and urban spirit, analyzing the path and elements of subway public art system design, from the macro level (theme planning and station classification strategy), the meso level (site selection strategy of multi-point layout) and the micro level (design elements generation) to propose a systematic design strategy at three levels.Research BackgroundThe early 20th century had seen the commencement of public art research. After a century of growth, its study subfields have been honed, and several studies on public art in subways have surfaced.Public art is an important medium to create a subway space atmosphere, which is the most intuitive embodiment of a city subway different from other cities. At present, although there have been many studies on the relationship between subway public art and urban spirit, most of the creative themes of subway public art are the translation and presentation of cultural elements, and most of them are based on the individuality of a station, lacking the integrity and continuity of the expression of urban spirit from the perspective of the lack of layout of the whole line of the subway network. There are scattered creations, and the integrity of the public's understanding of the urban spirit has not yet been formed. A system that promotes memory reinforcement.A statement of the objectiveThe research takes the promotion of the city spirit as the starting point, strengthens the city people's cognition, memory, understanding and recognition of the city spirit as the goal, takes the advantage of the wide coverage, tight connection and many nodes of the urban subway network space, takes the subway public art as the material carrier of publicity and the city spirit, analyzes the elements of the subway public art systematic design,and puts forward the subway public art systematic construction strategy based on the city spirit.A statement of the significanceA public art work is composed of multiple design elements, including the theme concept, scale, form of expression, technical means, shape, color and material of the work. The manifestation of urban spirit by the work is the embodiment of urban spirit by the design elements. The significance of this topic is shown in the following four aspects: 1. Taking the city spirit as the starting point, it provides practical methods for improving the city's soft power and strengthening the construction of social spiritual civilization.2."Metro+Public Art" "As the research object, give full play to the advantages of space and design expression, improve the civilization of the urban public, and give the possibility of diversified subway journeys. 3.Run through the research path with systematic design thinking, and provide systematic guidance and suggestions for the planning and design of urban public art. Methods4.use digital technology as a means to provide more innovative options for the presentation form of subway public art and the way to spread the city spirit.Methods:A.Literature analysis method: through summary and induction, we can clarify the research trends of domestic and foreign scholars on this topic, and analyze the existing problems at this stage.B. Case analysis method: analyze subway public art cases around the world to provide basis for the generation of design framework and strategy.C. Inductive and deductive method：The "strategy proposal part" of this study has used inductive and deductive method for many times.D.Propose the systematic design framework of subway public art based on the urban spirit, and propose the transformation method of design elements:1. Transformation method based on entity metaphor2. Transformation method based on structural metaphor3. Transformation method based on location metaphorResultsThe systematic design strategy is proposed from the macro level (theme planning and site grading strategy), the meso level (multi-point layout location strategy) and the micro level (generation of design elements).

Liu Lian

Conference Proceedings

Visual Thinking Through Diagrams

The purpose of this paper is to identify what kind of schemas or diagrams are most functional as a way of visualizing and transposing ideas.It aims to gather knowledge about how some ideas were interpreted after visualizing visual schemes, especially abstract concepts and the union of dispersed information. Currently, the intangible concepts that define a brand become increasingly complex to express and are almost never fully transmitted to internal and external stakeholders of the entity, creating in the mind of each one, a brand image little related to other aspects, goals and visions that the brand may have.This topic becomes relevant in the transposition of concepts during the development of brands, having visual identity systems or even brands that have their concepts, but need tools capable of communicating them visually.A systematic methodology was adopted, with a non-interventionist basis, with case studies of schemes and diagrams used by major brands and international brands.The results consist in the identification of a set of graphic principles and characteristics that brands should use in order to ensure their clear communication and ideological coherence.

Rogério Ribeiro, Daniel Raposo, Rita Almendra, João Neves

Conference Proceedings

Brand Marks' performance in digital media

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the graphic resistance and visual performance of Brand Marks in use on websites and social media. It aims to bring knowledge about the impact of digital media on the design of contemporary Brand Marks, but especially the limitations observed in the trademarks of brands originated during the 20th century or previously.Considering nowadays impact of online and digital communication, the internet of things, and the diversity of multiple screen dimensions, it is important to take a closer look at the performance of Brand Marks on websites, responsive web pages, audio-visuals, and social media.This topic is very relevant when studying or developing flexible systems of brand identification or even Brand Mark variants and respective visual guidelines. Specifically, we intend to observe how the design of Brand Marks and the digital environment compromise the graphic coherence of Visual Identity and brand identification.A systematic methodology was adopted, with a non-interventionist base, with the case study of 32 large and international brands. The results consist in the identification of a set of principles and graphic features which Brand Marks should follow to ensure its recognition, the coherence of Visual Identity and brand identification.

Daniel Raposo, Ricardo Correia, Rogério Ribeiro, João Neves

Conference Proceedings

Strategic Design, Regenerative Economy, and Resilient Rural Communities. The Creative Nature Hub

OECD (2021) emphasizes rural places' critical role in driving sustainable, inclusive growth. It also reinforces the need to strengthen place-based and place-led opportunities and resilience to go against global challenges and ongoing societal transformations, such as digitalization, climate change, ageing, migration, and population decline. This reality presents signiﬁcant challenges but also opportunities. According to some authors, rural communities have a critical role in tackling issues such as sustainable food supply chain development. The unique potential of rural areas to address these challenges and drive sustainable growth and people's well-being and happiness is also recognized.On the other hand, boosting community-based innovations and organizations is crucial to unlocking local opportunities, attracting investment, delivering improved essential products and services, and boosting growth and inclusive, sustainable development towards regenerative economies. In this line of thought and within the framework of the European Project Creation (Ferreira et al., 2020), this paper presents the main outputs of a research work that envisioned a new and sustainable creative hub business model. The regenerative economy understanding and the social innovation and sustainability background in Portugal's forest and rural setting are underlined. The design of the Creative Nature Hub's (CNH) business model, a cultural and creative non-proﬁt association, was supported by the analysis of three case studies of European organizations in the cultural and creative industries acting in rich cultural and human environments with similar sustainable goals. These hubs focus on social innovation, exploring collaborative processes, social learning, networking, and partnerships as strategic drivers for sustainable development. Applied research practices and people and nature-centric approaches allow new social interactions, respecting old cultural practices and ecosystems' dynamic balances. Technology democratization and literacy facilitated generational knowledge transfer and value co-creation in the contemporary digital paradigm. In line with the stress by (British Council, 2015), creative hubs have numerous advantages for those who participate in their functioning and the community. These hubs provide short- and long-term support in the form of products and services, facilitating communication within the community, creating a network and a wider audience, promoting the emergence of talent and creative thinking, or nurturing inclusive development. As the output of the design-driven research activity, a modular and evolutive CNH business model emerged. It allows the transformation and adaptation of the organization over time, highlighting circular design, green technologies, and sustainability to respect natural environment patterns of change and promote territory restoration while nurturing community well-being.

Ângela Ferreira, Ana Margarida Ferreira

Conference Proceedings

The education of the social designer

The proliferation of Higher Education (HE) programmes of study in the broad area of social design highlights the instructional challenges of how to educate the social designer. The evolution of HE programmes of study in this academic area has developed without agreed-upon criteria. It is characteristic, however, of social designers’ working practices that they deal with complexity that often requires multiple stakeholder participation and cross-disciplinary knowledge. It is a challenging task to strike the right educational balance to provide the appropriate skills. The unpacking of instructional trends in social design programmes of study can provide a stepping-stone to further elaborate on the education of the social designer, and this is the aim of this paper. Through a textual analysis of forty-two (42) programmes of study in social design in thirteen (13) different countries, this paper explores emerging instructional themes with a particular focus on competencies, entry criteria, programme content, teaching and learning and assessment, and it identifies curriculum design innovations.

Nicos Souleles

Conference Proceedings

SHELTER Project: Designing an innovative solution for earthquake resilience and survival

Severe earthquakes striking urban areas usually have catastrophic effects, and this risk is particularly acute in cities with more vulnerable buildings located in seismic-prone regions. The ideal solution to overcome this problem is to strengthen (or, in extreme situations, demolish) all vulnerable buildings located in seismic zones to ensure their safety and, thus, the safety of their users. However, this global approach is unfeasible because most owners need to be aware of the problem or have the financial capacity to implement such a solution. In this context, a project was developed entitled SHELTER – “Structural Hyper-resisting Element for Life-Threatening Earthquake Risk”, aiming at finding a viable solution to save human lives in severe seismic events, even when structural collapse occurs.The solution consists of installing a safety “capsule”, i.e., creating a located and structurally robust reinforcement of an accessible zone of the apartment/office where users can be safely protected.Four key aspects had to be addressed to make this concept effective: (i) the users had to be alerted in due time to get into the shelter before the violent shaking started; (ii) the capsule had to resist the actions caused by the building collapse without significant deformations; (iii) people had to survive during the building collapse, and (iv) people had to survive during the time entrapped within the capsule until the rescue teams arrival.This paper focuses on the design of the systems addressing survival during both the building collapse and the entrapped period.The survival during building collapse was based on safety seats, designed within the scope of the SHELTER project, provided with a shock absorber system constituted by a damper and elastic springs. These safety seats can strongly attenuate the peak accelerations that the shelter undergoes due to impacts, highly increasing survival chances.To ensure survival during the entrapped period, fundamental life-supporting needs were first listed: hydration, nutrition, dejection, breathing, SOS emission, thermal comfort, and psychological comfort. These needs were then fulfilled with the corresponding supporting systems or goods, which must be installed in the lifesaving capsule.

Joao Gomes Ferreira, Rita Moura, Ana Margarida Ferreira, Vasco Milne, Eduardo Goncalves, Diamantino Abreu, Luís Guerreiro

Conference Proceedings

The role of Information design in reducing dependence on health services

The dependence and passivity on health services is due to the hegemonic model that stills prevail, inadequate literacy levels of the population, the construction of health messages based on assumptions, lack of interaction context between users and health providers, and despite existing government programs and measures related to changing health services from a model that reacts instead of prevent, people still see health care services as a consumption model instead of a way of life or a purpose. In order to change this situation (reduce people’s dependence on health care services and health care providers) it is necessary, among others things, to delivery health information to people outside the usual places like hospitals, health centers, pharmacy and others, to everyday life and routines, contributing to autonomy and behavior change. In health, knowledge is latent in users, dormant and suppressed by the traditional service delivery approach, in which professionals are still largely in control.The surplus of information doesn´t mean more knowledge. To make knowledge useful and effective, it is necessary for citizens to identify themselves with the information and be concerned about the topic, but often they avoid or reject it, mainly due three main reasons: it may require a change of belief, it may demande an unwanted action, and lastly because the information can cause unpleasant emotions or diminish pleasant emotions.The information must affirm the identity of the individual and the society in which he is included and not jeopardize values and principles, it must reveal how action make the difference and that the individual is capable of doing it, finally show how to incorporate actions into everyday life. To do so health messages should be adjusted to cognitive needs, to cultural level, to beliefs, to emotional, social and linguistic needs. However, they are designed without taking into account the needs of the citizen. Information design and the integrative character of design tools have a fundamental role placing key stakeholders in the center of the process and constructing messages with a strong sense of ownership and commitment. With this study we highlight the value of developing messages involving the different stakeholders, from the citizen to public health organizations, in a deep and continuous way enabling an innovative integrative approach and building spaces for favoring citizen autonomy and reducing the passive attitude related to health services and providers.

Monica Santos, Suzana Dias

Conference Proceedings

Design Anthropology and the next evolution of the design process

As design theory and practice evolve, understanding the impacts that a designer’s choices will have on the larger community are more important than ever. While designers have always sought to shape the world around us, and (for the most part) serve as a positive force in improving people’s lives, designers today are reckoning with the unintended and unforeseen consequences of poor decision making, and the poor understanding of culture of past designers. Looking into various definitions of design, past movements that sought to alter the design process, and their effectiveness and criticisms, we can start to understand the need for a new form kind of design practice.The biggest issue has been a lack of understanding of local cultures, and especially of value systems, as part of the design process. This has led to designers working off of perceptions of what people value, rather than understanding those value systems before intervening. Here, the relatively new field of design anthropology holds promise, as it provides a new approach to design; one that does not look to create for a universal ideal, but instead infuses design with the perspective of multiplicity.This paper explores the evolution of Design Anthropology, dissects the similarities and differences between design and anthropology, and looks at ways in which this new field can influence traditional design processes and practices. The goal is to create design process that seeks to understand and empathize with the culture and value systems of a community, rather than just disrupt or supersede them.

Nishanth Srikanth

Conference Proceedings

Design and creativeness for a three-act session

This paper presents the bases of a documentary about the conversion of the business sector and the performing arts in the North of Portugal, during the pandemic. The documentary intends to prove that the introduction of innovative procedures can be important to all sectors involved in society. Liquid reality (Bauman, 2005) demands constant exploration; therefore, it challenges designers to create sustainable products. Knowing that spectacle is about human connection, a process disconnected from visual culture can contribute to the public ignoring the participation of design as an area of knowledge. Between 2021 and 2022 a territorial network system was developed consisting of researchers, a lighting company, a raw materials industry, a municipality, company, a theatre, entertainment companies and a school of music of the North of Portugal. It was possible to develop systemic lighting products at the prototype level, bearing new semantic paths, performance, and interaction with people. The prototypes were developed by a lighting company. In theatre, the prototypes were joined by musicians to interpret pieces by Debussy and Dvořák. This group was joined by an actor who declaimed Mallarmé and Longfellow. The result was recorded on video by technicians and disseminated on YouTube and Instagram.The study investigates the dynamics of a creative process and its impact on the different areas involved, bringing together the testimony of the various actors in the process, challenging assumptions and bringing a new view to reality events. The golden age of documentaries happened in the 80’s (Rosenthal, Corner, 2005), and today the dissemination of documentaries happens through internet. As the documentary film never had a precise definition (Nichols, 2017), this study contributes to the autonomy of this typology of artistic production. The documentary methodology combined with the use of social networks manages to achieve a broader societal impact and in an effective way. An experimental theme related to different areas of knowledge attends a design-driven innovation (Verganti, 2009) and not a market-oriented process that could compromise the experimental factor. The documentary can become an occasion to promote discussion between the notions of science and art, fiction and non-fiction, business and art, teaching, and profession. It is intended to demonstrate that the process of cooperation between different areas is a sustainable choice that respects and values the project partners, assuming a social commitment. The film interprets the current reality, dealing with what happened before, during and after filming and conveying social interest and debate about the role of creative processes in transforming reality.The research already includes a post-doctoral, the publication of a book, a video, a promotional teaser, 2 prototypes and interviews with some stakeholders, so that it can expand its potential to a larger project with the aim of generating innovation, producing mutual sustainability between the manufacturing and the culture industries of the same region. The study could be the basis for consolidating a proposal for a future project, explaining how a design process is developed in the various stages and using a visual document that can have a strong impact on today's society.

Liliana Soares, Ermanno Aparo, Rita Almendra

Conference Proceedings

Natural and artificial lighting: Influence on readability

In the study we present, the effects of different types of light (natural or artificial), different types of texts (scientific and children's) and different reading formats (on screen and on paper) on our readability are addressed, as well as determining the preference of each participant for reading tasks and to what extent reading with natural light and with influences of artificial light affects their readability in design, and how the reading process could be done more effectively, through manipulation of lighting variables. The experiments were based on different tasks, which required 10 participants, to read two different texts (children's text and scientific text), in two different formats (print and screen) under two different types of lighting (natural light and artificial light). During reading, we recorded the following parameters: Heart rate and EEG signal (levels of calm, neutral and active (%) using two devices: a heart rate monitor to measure heart rate and Muse, a brain detection headband that uses real-time biofeedback in its brain activity, which we used to monitor brain activity. After completing the protocol, participants answered a questionnaire to collect data on their reading preferences and were composed of three parts: the first part consisted of questions aimed at collecting demographic information from the participants (age, nationality, and other useful data for our research); the second part addressed three questions about the participants reading preferences; the third part was designed to explore the participants opinions about the test and their comfortability. We conclude that participants prefer reading on paper rather than on screen and their performance was better in reading with artificial light. Although reading with natural light was the preference of most participants, reading with artificial light provides better performance in performing the tasks. These findings could help designers to better understand the roles of lighting variables in the reading process and to create light design products that are more efficient, sustainable, and comfortable.

Sílvia Espada, Ana Teixeira, Maria Antunes, Sonia Brito-Costa

Conference Proceedings

Dialectic of the Sustainability: Design and Art new Frontiers

Sustainability is, currently, one of society's main paradigms and depends, above all, on the way in which we plane and trace new paths so that, in a systemic, integrated and transdisciplinary way, choices are objective and made based on a greater collective good. It is at this point that sustainability meets design and art, as all formal, informal, and non-formal artefacts are, at some level, constituents and agents of change. The complementarities between design and art are increasingly identified in fine details and that is why we often see art migrating to stores and design artefacts to museums. This relationship between art and design aims to develop a new language for industrial culture. By applying a theoretical perspective capable of articulating the fundamental dimensions of the man’s relationship with the environment and highlighting the aesthetics of sustainability, it will consequently highlight the beauty of the complementarity of antagonisms in art and design interventions, thus playing an important role in the process of “socialization” of society. Being sustainability the subject of the moment and with roots for the future, this exploratory article seeks to investigate the dialectics between design and art and foresee future practices that will be the answers of tomorrow.

Ruben Moutinho, Ermanno Aparo, Paulo Dinis

Conference Proceedings

The creation of a network, in the North of Portugal, as an opportunity for territorial sustainability

This article intends to demonstrate that, in the North of Portugal, the creation of a business network can become an opportunity to achieve territorial sustainability.The development of a territorial business network system can be crucial to stimulate local development, in the sense that it represents an opportunity to favor and encourage investments. This strategy, in addition to contributing to the dynamization of the productive activities involved, will make it possible to trigger new partnerships, which may be an opportunity to develop and share resources, processes, knowledge and innovation among the intervening parties.The territory of the North of Portugal is mainly characterized by small and medium-sized companies and, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics, in the study carried out in 2008 on the structures of Portuguese companies, “there were 349,756 micro, small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) in Portugal", taking into account that the North region had 113,747 companies, influencing the region's turnover by 69.5%.With this study, the authors intend to demonstrate that in the North of Portugal, the implementation of a design-oriented territorial network strategy can be crucial to achieving territorial sustainability (Costa, F.; Soares, L.; Aparo, E., 2022) to define the evolution of the local economy. In this sense, it is intended to implement a business network system of contacts, through the business characterization of the territory under study, in this case, the North of Portugal, which promote innovation, design-driven innovation (Verganti, 2020), and are also a way of generating dynamism in productive activities, fostering sustainability and even their success or even survival. Based on localized excellence, a project built on a network can activate collaboration processes, boosting the productive capacity of each company, improving the offer and making processes and resources profitable.

Fátima Costa, Ermanno Aparo, Liliana Soares

Conference Proceedings

The will-to-power to design a violin

This paper intends to highlight the competence of Design to determine productive and creative connections for the creation of a complex instrument such as the violin as an interpreter and precursor of innovation in the processes of sustainability of society.Over time, but particularly from the 17th century onwards, violin production was characterized by a profound relationship between knowledge of materials and experimentation with techniques that, in some cases, have remained practically identical until the days of today. For some researchers (Bonaventura, 1933; Hutchins, 1981; Bonfils et Fabretti, 2019) it seems quite curious to be able to understand how, in the 18th century, some luthiers were able to produce instruments whose sound qualities are still highly appreciated today, considering the little knowledge in the scopes of chemistry, physics and acoustics. The relationship between the construction and the artefact of this instrument has always been characterized by a connection between the mystique and the culture of the place propitiated for the religious cult that characterized the cultural contest and the capacity to benefit from the resources available in the place and that involves the history of some violinists in the construction of the instrument itself. In this sense, in the history of the construction of this instrument, there are religious references such as the Agnus Dei related to the ancient strings in lamb guts or even the Regis Purpura of the varnish that recalls the color of the blood of Christ (Borer, 2006). In this construction process, there is also a coherent use of the material available in the area, such as, for example, red spruce or maple wood. The presence of this material in large quantities in the alpine areas where firewood itself transited (Blom, 2021), argues its use in the violin. Today, the lack and high cost of some resources make a new interpretation of the relationship between design and production necessary, namely, establishing new connections between materials, processes, and the contemplation of the artifact in its production, as well as in its appreciation. The productive analysis carried out today must considerer a new assessment of the relationship between the various forces that constitute the production of the artifact, determining a connection that can improve the result, but always having the classical reference as a starting point.In this sense and referring to the concept of “will-to-power” (Nietzsche, 2008), to design a musical instrument such as a violin becomes liberating from the theological thought of the time. A possibility that allows the individual to base courage on himself and not on a divine reason, allowing courage to be the general condition of practical reason, synonymous with the space-time relationship and the unplanned.With this article, the authors intend to demonstrate that the use of sustainable materials, which make use of traditional lutherie methods, can determine a new mystique that accompanies environmental principles and helps human beings to get closer to nature and the values that intend it to preserve, defend but also venerate.

Ermanno Aparo, Liliana Soares, Evandra Gonçalves

Conference Proceedings

Holistic Design driven by the user experience for the renovation of industrial cultural heritage.

To create livable cities, to guarantee the well-being of individuals and to promote social cohesion, it is necessary to adopt a more holistic approach to urban development. Designing public space by responding to the challenges and opportunities of constant change is an increasingly relevant area of study for design. Among urban planning tools, the reuse of buildings for a function for which they were not intended to is a strategy that has become unavoidable, particularly because of its social and environmental benefits. The process of reuse promotes urban regeneration, interaction and attachment to place, while simultaneously ensuring continuity between past, present and future. In the case of the reuse of industrial heritage buildings, the modes of preservation and enhancement are influenced by institutions such as UNESCO or TICCIH (The International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage) which aim to protect cultural heritage, but at the same time can lead to uniform results. However, to enhance public space and for communities to get involved into projects to transform their cities, it seems essential to address identity and local issues. In this framework, the holistic design approach - that involves a particular attention to context combined with the need for change - can enable the development of subtle and intelligent solutions that make cities more attractive. When we think of holistic design, we usually think of the human factor, a set of functions designed to facilitate and improve the life of the user.This article aims to contribute to the discussion about the role of the holistic design and user experience towards sustainable cultural heritage through the discussion of a particular study case: the FCCVA (Fábrica Centro Ciência Viva de Aveiro/Fábrica-Center of Living Science Center from Aveiro).

Gaelle Pillault, Fátima Pombo

Conference Proceedings

Generation Y as a catalyst for a paradigm shift in urban mobility

Most urban areas in developed countries today have structural mobility problems, exacerbated by the ineffectiveness of territorial governance policies and the lack of strategies to anticipate the environmental challenges triggered by climate change. Given the many uncertainties predicted for the near future, mobility is perhaps the quality that best represents contemporaneity. It represents the pressures and political challenges that will determine the living conditions of the next generations, as Henrik Hololei, Director General for Mobility and Transport of the EU, said in 2019 (Transport in the European Union – current trends and issues). To integrate the EU's plan to implement the Climate Neutral Mission and Smart Cities, which aims for inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities, this study focuses on a research strategy on the current urban mobility paradigm and emerging opportunities as society continues to shift to electric vehicles.According to Eusotat's November 2021 data, commuting to work is one of the main reasons for daily trips. Moreover, the car is the predominant mode of transport, used by less than 2 people on average. Given this scenario, it is appropriate and urgent to redefine the status of the automobile and to orient a new vehicle design towards the expectations and values of the young and professionally active age group, between 25 and 45 years, referred to as Generation Y. These people do not find economic, safe and comfortable solutions compatible with their priorities and life expectations in the current commercial offer of own cars, shared mobility systems or public transport.For this reason, the authors believe it is appropriate to ask the following questions:- Will a typical passenger car with comfortable seating for 5 people, an average price of €32,035 (data from European average car prices in 2015-2020, by country, from Statista in June 2022), mainly used by the driver, be compatible with the mobility expectations of a young generation in Europe? - Does the continued investment in increasing the range of electric vehicles make sense when most journeys are between home and work with an average distance of 10 km? - Will it be possible to increase the capacity of parking spaces without changing the existing infrastructure? - Will people with reduced mobility be able to drive autonomously and access the interior of the vehicle effortlessly?Given these assumptions, this study converges in a research strategy that aims to analyze, reflect and design a user-centered vehicle for urban mobility that enforces the concepts of inclusion for people with reduced mobility, integrates the EU Sustainable Development Goals and gears the vehicle towards commuter trips. This context sets the stage for a radical innovation of the mobility paradigm that, despite recent technological advances, currently fails to meet the social, economic and environmental demands of contemporary society.

Eduardo Noronha, J Oliveira

Conference Proceedings

Towards safer mobility in cities and communities: a framework to assist the design process of cycling warning systems

Cycling is currently booming as an affordable mean of transportation to replace fossil fuel vehicles. Regardless of multiple projects to increase and promote safe cycling environments, riders safety is a growing concern since it is affected by multiple variables such as circulating vehicles and pedestrians, road and city design and conditions, rider’s behavior, bicycle characteristics, among others.Currently, there are already some devices to help bicycle riders to discern threats in their journey and the literature reports a few studies aiming to evaluate users perception regarding such devices effectiveness and usability. However, according to our knowledge, those studies are scattered, focused on evaluating specific solutions and their contributions were not yet described in a holistic perspective. Based on a scoping literature review, presented paper aims to add a contribution to the topic by arranging knowledge from across those fragmented research approaches into a coherent framework.Since this work is part of a project focused on cycling safety solutions based on the use of digital technologies to assist rider preventive behaviour, the review was firstly conducted by assessing research dealing with this still emerging concept of rider self-protection enabled through warning systems, transportable by the cyclist or applicable on a bicycle, independent of the existence of a dedicated and/or exclusive external infrastructure. Additionally, some studies addressing safety measures depending upon other vehicles, city facilities or any other external entities or devices were also assessed, identifying the risk situations they address and user requirements in an alert situation. Aiming to bridge and unify knowledge, an integrative framework was developed. The framework intends to depict the principles of cycling self-safety systems mediated by smart devices, revealing key variables and concepts, clarifying its definitions and foundations, relationships between them, related processes and evaluation/measurement factors.The main contribution of this work is the proposal of a provisional integrative framework to serve as a guide during the process of designing cycling warning systems. Proposed framework is expected to assist the different activities throughout the design process, providing design and evaluation guidelines for selection of unexplored product development opportunities, new concepts development and selection, test and validation of prototypes or even products already in the market.

Pedro Santos, António Gomes, Violeta Clemente

Conference Proceedings

Original-Copy: ideation for a lampshade inspired by nature

The following article looks at nature as a cultural pre-set narrative (or set of narratives) and reflects on how it can influence the design process to achieve a concrete result - a product. It describes an ongoing process that intersects intangible (behaviours) and tangible (matter) expressions of nature with the concept of Original-Copy, as the conceptual framework to develop and materialize a lampshade.The inclusion of behaviour patterns presents poetic and imaginative properties to trigger the conceptual phase of a project, while biomatter was chosen to physically materialize the ideas. In this context, the Original-Copy concept works as the archetype on which a new product can be based.The aforementioned approach has been applied and developed through a workshop, which intends to join the three concepts referred to above: behaviours, matter and original-copy.Firstly, a taxonomy of animals´ seduction rituals and courtship behaviours has been developed, which includes various criteria of classification, such as duration, triggers, interaction, or intensity. This taxonomy works as the catalyst of the workshop, to promote imagination and disruption in the design process.In this challenge, the shape of the object is predetermined by an original form (an archetype), in this case, the renowned Constanza lampshade, produced by the Italian brand Luceplan. The poetic dimension is induced by the attempt of translating the patterns of animal mating rituals described in the taxonomy into the characteristics of the biomaterial. The final objective was for the participants to express themselves through the physical dimension (texture, opacity, smell, touch, taste, bias) of created materials, inspired by animal behaviours, and use it to create the reinterpretation of the pre-existing form of the Constanza lampshade.After explaining the workshop methodology, the article presents the main ideas generated. Selected behaviours and the way of their application, composition of the created biomaterials used to materialize the ideas, as well as the final outcomes are described.An important part of the article is the report on the failed attempts of creating the materials and constructing the lampshades, their causes and the impact on the whole process.In the future, further evaluation and development of the proposed approach are anticipated, through the described workshops in different social and geographic contexts. It is awaited the possible creation of collections of other design classics lampshades, based on distinct triggers, for example on endogenous resources, emphasizing different ways how nature can influence design.

Pedro Maia, Raul Pinto

Conference Proceedings

Smart product: product requirements for the development of a responsive mirror for elderly support

A responsive smart product can connect with a network, to sense and gain awareness as well as to react to input signals and align with them. This paper describes the product requirements gathering process to assist the development of a responsive bathroom mirror connected with emergency centres for elderly support. The rapidly increasing ageing population has led to increased number of elderly people living alone. In this sense it is essential to pursue strategies that can guarantee ageing in place safely, independently, and with confidence, and improve the quality of life of those who wish to continue living in their own living environment. Driven by recent advances in technology, the development of smart products that can respond to human needs and wants, and to improve everyday tasks, became a tangible reality. When smart products are developed for senior citizens daily support, responding to what their expectations are and whether they are satisfied with them, and what opportunities and worries they associate with their age, overcoming technological barriers from the user's point of view, it will have a huge impact on the communities: older people, their families, and the healthcare system. To address these issues, this paper provides a systematic identification of product requirements, technological and from user’s point of view, for the future development of a responsive mirror. Towards a holist development approach, first, existing studies on smart products, research on related technological trends and development were reviewed, supplemented with case studies of existing smart products for healthcare. The first list of requirements was developed from this research. Additionally, studies and public statistics were analysed to confirm the relation between domestic environment and high levels of injuries, as well as places and situations of the accidents that have high impact on health and well-being. Smart products typically have a strong sense of technology. Being a mirror a product that is used in a daily basis, it is mandatory to gather simultaneously the user’s preferences and technological requirements. Based on a systematic approach, a Kano Model was developed; requirements were synthesized and organized within a comprehensive user requirement framework delineating three levels of needs: basic, performance and delight. Research from the field of smart products demonstrated that there are several technological trends that can be applied to mirrors, that there are smart mirrors for applications in automobile and fashion industries. Nevertheless, examples of these products in healthcare remains limited. Additionally, recent technological developments enable the development of a responsive smart mirror that not only serve as an interface for displaying information but can predict the presence of the user.

Soraia Ala, Alexandre Cruz

Conference Proceedings

Product design education: a kit for building empathy

Challenges around inclusive design and social design consciousness require understanding the thoughts and feelings of the people around us. The role of empathy in the design process is widely recognized in the literature, increasing the attention of researchers and design educators to include empathic design as a research approach in product design education. Developing empathy through experiencing others’ life provides opportunities for students to understand how people with disabilities live, feel and experience their everyday life. Product design students need to gain socially conscious awareness and improve their empathic horizon. According to the literature, through training and experience, the empathic horizon of designers can be extended and changed over time. To acquire more empathy with people, simulation devices or wearable kits can be designed to mimic the weaknesses and limitations of people with disabilities. This paper describes an empathic design process where the students designed and prototyped an empathic wearable kit and perform the task independently. Putting on ‘other shoes’ the students record the experience in video and use the think-aloud technique to communicate the difficulties felt during the task. By learning to empathize, students can improve their abilities to recognize and make interpretations of what people think, feel, and need. Empathy practice during product development can provide empathic collect probes to help in students' design process decisions.

Silvina Félix, Miriam Reis

Conference Proceedings