Paula Alexandra Silva

A methodology to evaluate creative design methods: a study with the BadIdeas method

The so-called creative design methods have become part of the everyday HCI-ers toolbox, however there is little discussion in the field concerning the actual value and the relative benefit of applying one method instead of another or of applying various methods in ones design efforts. These methods and techniques tend often to be applied in an unthoughtful uninformed manner.n This paper discusses the issue of evaluating and comparing the design methods and presents an overview of creativity measures for idea generation together with an attempt to rationalise those measures and combine them into a single value metric. This measure is then applied to assess the results obtained while using a specific method, the BadIdeas method, under various conditions; some observations and analysis on the possible effects of those conditions are performed.n Findings are surprising. Facilitated conditions positively affect participants enjoyment of the method and the way they think about analysing products but the overall value of facilitation appears less than the overall value of unfacilitated work. The method seems to work better for groups that initially work individually, than those who start working in groups and overall results are better in a design, rather than in a redesign context.

BadIdeas for usability and design of medicine and healthcare sensors

This paper describes the use of a technique to improve design and to develop new uses and improve usability of user interfaces. As a case study, we focus on the design and usability of a research prototype of an actigraph - electronic activity and sleep study device - the Porcupine. The proposed BadIdeas technique was introduced to a team of students who work with this sensor and the existing design was analysed using this technique. The study found that the BadIdeas technique has promising characteristics that might make it an ideal tool in the prototyping and design of usability-critical appliances.