A Framework for User-Requirements Analysis and Development of Creative Design Concepts.

This paper describes a framework and process for user-centred design for interactive products with an emphasis on creativity in designing solutions and the development of multiple solution concepts. The aim is to encourage more radical ideas to be put forward and for the resulting design concepts to be compared objectively using defined user requirements specification statements. The process consists of 6 stages including: identification of user problem or need, user research to generate insights and empathy, development of user requirements specification, generation of ideas synthesised into design concepts, comparison and choice of best concept, and prototyping of the concept to develop a design proposition. Classroom testing of the framework indicated that the students could use it effectively and were able to produce effective designs.