The conclusive task in the Investigation 1 framework dealt more specifically with a facet of design that is often overlooked; namely with all those cases when designers must comply with a predetermined set of conditions. Design is seen as a largely creativity-driven and almost unconstrained activity. It is common perception that, while conceiving a product and envisioning its functions, designers are totally responsible and accountable for their choices. The lecture by Pietro Turi, of IconMedialab, and subsequently the assignment he gave to the I-Design Class, depicted a much more articulate and complex situation.
Designers and Interaction Designers, even more often, have to confront with the task of delivering products that have to comply with present technological standards. Especially when designing services, designers have to carefully pay attention to the performance and capabilities of the hardware platform which will be adopted or that, in most cases, it is already existent. Solutions therefore, beside technical limitations inherent in the hardware chosen, must also consider which are the controls available and what kind of interaction each solution affords. In order to let the students appreciate these aspects, Pietro Turi presented in full detail the case history of an application IconMedialab was asked to develop for a new IPtv. Pietro presented the standards and design guidelines that inform the design process in such circumstances. Furthermore he pointed out an interesting remark: interaction designers, are unaware of certain limitations and often they’re holding true some principles that, although perfectly sensible for web-based interfaces, cannot totally taken for granted for other screen based interfaces.

After this last observation, Pietro introduced the exercise he prepared to test the notions he introduced during the lecture. The class, then, divided into smaller work-groups. Each group had to choose between two options: designing a VOD (Video on Demand) system or a PPV (Pay per View) Channel subscription system. The groups had to work on the service access and on the menu structure, keeping as their starting point a precise remote control with a limited set of functions already set. Second part of the task, after working out the “wireframe” of the menus, implied the design of an hypothesis for the screen layout. Once concluded the tasks, the group presented their results, while Pietro gave feedbacks and highlighted the good points and the few overlooked details of the suggested solutions.

The third intensive workshop of Investigation 1, had its main focus on Usability Testing and Ethnographic Analysis Techniques. Francesca Tassistro, of IconMedialab, introduced the topic with a tailored lecture. The lecture, while illustrating all the established practices adopted by a large part of the industry both in the domains of multi media design and consumer electronics, summarized the reasons why User Testing has reached such a strategic importance. Usability Tests are today assets used strategically within the industry to assess and validate design and production processes. Francesca Tassistro explained also what is the kind of insight that data gathered during such activities can provide. In particular Francesca talked about the present standards applied in this discipline and how, within IconMedialab, these specific techniques are being used.
After the lecture Francesca set up an exercise to let the students appreciate better which are the different phases an analyst must walk through while running a test session. Some general issues were addressed before starting the task. Topics such as setting preparation and how to instruct the users were largely discussed. Francesca Tassistro stressed in particular the importance of the Test moderator and which are the best practices this figure should follow.

The students then were asked to simulate the set-up procedure for the test setting, in order to be sure the test environment would fit the activity under assessment. The class then was involved in preparing the assessment and the test protocols. The selected activity to be tested concerned the activation of specific set of functions on a specific mobile phone model. Once outlined the objectives and the ideal course of the test, the students set out to run the test on their classmates, who were chosen as part of the sampled population. At the conclusion of the test session the class, under the lead of Francesca Tassistro discussed the possible data processing of the gathered information in order to highlight specific use patterns and critical aspects.

The Second task, planned as one of the skill based activities in the Investigation 1 module, was the one most directly calling on the visual skills of the students. Giovanni Spagnoli of IconMedialab introduced the task with a quick lecture on visual language. The lecture gave relevance to the history and development of visual representation of objects and abstract concepts. It also provided an overview on some of the most significant moments in the recent evolution of modern graphic design and visual language. Before concluding, Giovanni Spagnoli highlighted the capital role that a clear look and feel plays in the development of an effective interface.

After the lecture the class begun the two assignments prepared specifically for Investigation 1. The first one consisted on assessing the actual effectiveness of a heterogeneous set of icons. The students were asked to assess the proposed icons and to associate each one of them to an Operative System function or to an application. The results of the exercise were then commented and the class was invited to contribute with personal observations and remarks to the different level of effectiveness of the examples provided.

Subsequently the students had to put their fresh competence to the test. The second task of the day actually required them to design two different sets of icons. The first, somehow more conventional, was pertaining different familiar tools and functions of computer applications. The second, proved a bit more demanding raising the level of challenge, it asked the students to illustrate with icons abstract concepts, such as feelings and psychological states. At the conclusion of the task all the students gathered around their freshly designed icon sets for a common crits & comments session moderated by Giovanni Spagnoli.

The First Task the I-Design class is called to tackle is the one related to User Centered Design practices. The activity opens with a lecture by Gabriele Molari, of IconMedialab, who provides an overview of different strategies and techniques used both in the concept generation and in the assessment phase of a design process. The lecture focuses on specific differences characterizing the effectiveness of each research “tool” for gathering data valuable during the various stages of a hypothetic design project.

After the lecture the class divides into 3 groups, each one called to address a specific topic. The first group is assigned the task to provide an estimation of the kind of user researches that are technically the most yielding for orienting the creation and launch of a new product. Their task is to build a road-map that will eventually encompass several phases of the product creation and development, starting with inspirational research and ending up with the guidelines for the first round of proofing after the product has been launched.

The second group instead has the task to formulate a plan of user researches to substantiate the different steps of a design project carried out by an institutional player, such as for instance the European Union. Students are required to pay attention both to issues related to budget and timeframe of each specific project. The specific sequence of assessment and probing sessions should be accurately planned, while keeping in mind that the resources used should be commensurate to the importance of the funding agency and to its established standard requirements.

The third group eventually must address the task of devising a series of surveys for planning the redesign of a web service. In order to fulfill the requirements of this task the students must pay extreme attention to the identity of the client. While working for private companies it is of the utmost importance to make the best possible use of all the available resources. Managing and choosing in a clever way the most appropriate combination of research methodologies can in fact mark the difference between failure and success.

IconMediaLab professionals are guiding targeted lectures coupled by practical direct exercises that exposes students to industry best practices.

The resulting projects are presented at Domus Academy on April 04th.