Kneading Design System: 3D Modelling Study Tool with Emotional Value for Non-Specialists

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to introduce a Kneading Design System, that is, a design tool that enables "hands" mediated 3D modelling studies, and to explore what kind of value users can perceive by using this tool. Kneading Design System is implemented using parametric design techniques, with a physical interface allowing users to explore the solution by actually touching it with their hands. The tool allows non-experts to intuitively deform the 3D model by providing input through a physical device with clay-like affordances. The physical device can detect the pressure exerted by the user's touch and use the transformed and accumulated parameters in order to change the shape of the drawn object, allowing the user to touch and explore a large solution space. Technically, the tool is a combination of parametric design and a tangible user interface, nevertheless, it is unique in its "direct hand touch" aspect. Experiments were conducted to characterize explored solutions by comparing the proposed tool with a text-based 3D generative model. The experimental results showed that the solutions explored using "hands" were "more unexpectedly shaped for the user" and had "more emotional value" than those explored using text. It was also found that the emotional values explored by the proposed tool are based on internalizations such as selfhood. Although the proposed tool is targeted at 3D modelling, this design methodology can be applied to other domains. This paper we also describe a new design vision for applying the concept of the proposed tool.

Keywords: HCI, Parametric design, Deep learning

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1003709