Stimulating usage problem generation: An urban mobility case study. (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Al Maghraoui, Ouail; Vallet, Flore; Puchinger, Jakob; Yannou, Bernard
• Is Part Of: Design studies. Volume 64(2019)
• Page Start: 27
• Page End: 63
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: user-centred design -- user participation -- design problems -- case study -- stimulus; Design -- Periodicals; 745.405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.destud.2019.07.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-694X

Abstract

Abstract : Designers improve urban mobility solutions by investigating archetypal usage problems in existing mobility systems. User-centered design methods help accomplish this task, but lack effectiveness when not supported by appropriate tools. Here we posit that the use of a traveller-centred stimulus improves the effectiveness of travel problem generation. To test this hypothesis, an experiment is conducted with two control groups as a baseline for non-stimulated problem generation and two experimental groups that are provided with a traveller-centred stimulus. The two sets of groups are composed of one group of urban mobility experts and one group of non-experts. Results show that stimulated groups generate novel ideas with a greater variety covering most of the traveller experience dimensions than non-stimulated groups. Highlights: Usage problem generation lacks effectiveness when not stimulated. Ideation effectiveness metrics should adapt to the nature of ideas. A traveller-centered stimulus is proposed to support travel problem generation. A stimulated problem generation session generates various and novel problems.