This research investigates how new manufacturing concepts can be developed by individual practitioners and small manufacturing companies facilitated by an increased diffusion of digital fabrication tools and knowledge resources. Within this innovation scenario the study is particularly focused on exploring the early stages of research and development, rather than phases concerning product testing and marketing. This thesis provides data from a practice-based study with a technical focus on the development of fabrication concepts based on an underutilised fabrication concept known as Reconfigurable Pin Tooling (RPT). This manufacturing idea has also been described as ‘universal’ or ‘ideal’ tooling and has attracted interest from a number of researchers and inventors since the mid nineteen century (Munro and Walczyk, 2007). Although presenting potential advantages compared with conventional production systems, the concept has only been used in very few practical and commercial applications. Developments in digital technologies are now providing the technical foundations for developing new RPT systems and applications. The practice element of this study features two strands of enquiry. One concerns the development of an RPT system for the production of glass bowls within the researchers' own creative practice. The other practice strand was guided by interaction with a local furniture company, MARK Product, and focussed on the development of an RPT system for shaping upholstery foam. In combination, the two practice elements served to investigate tools, factors, and approaches that are involved when independent practitioners engage in innovation in the context of digital fabrication. Results from both investigations provide new insights into the independent innovation in this field. Original knowledge contributions from this research include the development of two novel RPT applications with a number of new technical solutions also having been established as a result of this study. Equally, the exploration of the glass RPT concept led to the productions of original artistic output, which is presented as evidence for the creative potential of this RPT concept. Furthermore, the study resulted in the development of a new approach for recording research data in rich II media format via an IOS database template. Conceptual knowledge contributions concern concepts and aspects that are relevant to independent innovators operating in the context of digital fabrication, building on the work of Smith and Von Hipple (2005; 2005). Reflections of this study in relation to S-curve theory (Christensen, 1997; Foster, 1986) are also included. The insights from this research have resulted in a concluding argument which proposes that an innovation toolset, which is combined by several facilitating aspects, can be seen as enabling individual practitioners to shift from operating within an individual innovation sphere to a position where they are able to make a valuable contribution in sectors beyond their own practice.

No description available.

The devastating effects that unsustainable design practices have on the natural world and other species with whom we share this planet have gained widespread awareness and are the driving force behind attempts to develop more sustainable design approaches. These efforts tend to focus on minimising the negative effects that design has on the natural world by reduced material and energy usage. However, the possibility that design may have an active role in mitigating the erosion of biodiversity has only entered the discussion in recent years and remains a marginal activity for design. Following an ongoing paradigm shift calling for the inclusion of a greater diversity of wild animals within human-dominated habitats (as a way of addressing both the erosion of biodiversity and humankind’s alienation from nature), this research proposes that there is a growing need for a design practice capable of responding to the needs of wild animals, while addressing questions of human-animal interaction. In this thesis, Multispecies Design is proposed and developed as a theoretical framework for supporting the shift to more biodiverse human habitats. The research addresses both the physical and socio-cultural requirements of such a shift. Three distinct views define this emerging design approach: recognising animals as clients of design, recognising human-animal interactions as designed experiences and the view of manmade systems as further extensions of ecological systems. The methodological implications of Multispecies Design have been explored in a case study design project concerned with the ecological enhancement of a coastal outfall pipe on a highly frequented beach in Cornwall, UK. The case study explored ways of designing to address the needs of both people and of wild animal species, as well as the interactions between the two groups. It focused on identifying and developing design approaches and tools for studying and representing wild animals in design projects to facilitate their integration into built environments. These tools were further refined in a series of workshops with design and art students carried out during the PhD research. The insights from the practical work, together with the theoretical framework developed alongside them, have led to the development of Principles of Multispecies Design and practical and conceptual Tools for Multispecies Design.

Digital media are noticeably changing the qualities of urban public spaces, which can no longer be considered a purely physical construct. Yet, the extent to which contemporary digital media can be used to promote other forms of spatial agency remains a critical issue. Whereas the impact of technology from a macro perspective offers a globalizing and homogenizing image, its role in the production of space at a local scale is less clear (Kirsch 1995). The aim of this study is to argue for digital public spaces as a concrete programme to support the articulation of a third notion of public space that emerges at the interface of physical–digital hybrid spaces (Stikker 2013). The project for digital public spaces is posed as one that pursues enabling citizens’ rights to participation and appropriation (Purcell 2002) of physical–digital hybrid spaces. It is argued that while physical and digital spaces do not stand in opposition, their operational models do not fit seamlessly either. Therefore, the research is particularly concerned with how to design for the conditions that allow a dialogical relation between physical and digital features of space, and enable citizens to actively participate in the production of physical–digital hybrid spaces, and for which a dialectical mode of analysis is required. Following a cumulative narrative, the study explores different characterizations of digital public spaces, which have been articulated through design-led action research projects conducted in collaboration with academia, creative industries, citizens and public authorities. The study accomplishes a novel application of the unitary theory of space proposed by the Marxist French philosopher and sociologist, Henri Lefebvre (1992), which is revisited to develop a novel framework to reveal the social production of physical–digital hybrid spaces. The framework is developed through practice, and extensively applied throughout the thesis illustrating three distinctive dominating perspectives of physical–digital hybrid spaces: substitution, co-evolution and recombination (Graham 1998). The framework has proved to be a flexible and insightful method of analysis that: enables approaching the social production of physical and digital spaces individually and in relation to one another; to understand how different spatial configurations allow for participation and appropriation; and in turn, to re-contextualize the right to the city (Lefebvre 1996) in digital public spaces.

Many companies are exploring opportunities for improving Home Health Care (HHC) provision, at a time when the demand for well-designed home healthcare products (HHCPs) and associated services is rapidly growing. Research into their approaches found that innovation strategies and techniques adopted by many HHCP suppliers have not matured to realise the best innovative solutions. This practice-based PhD thesis presents the research journey which investigated the strengths and weaknesses of product innovation approaches of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) which dominate the HHC field. It considers how to improve HHC product innovation by using more robust New Product Development (NPD) processes that aim at enabling more effective team working; improving information management; and establishing a better understanding the needs of all stakeholders, particularly end-users, in the design and development process. Working collaboratively with companies in the sector innovation shortcomings are identified at the fuzzy front-end (FFE) of a project cycle. The majority of these issues are related to poor practices in creating and applying the design brief. The study found that few SMEs engage in structured approaches to the development of the HHCP brief, which leads to numerous (often very costly) design modifications as the product life develops. As a solution an original toolkit for improving the design brief development process is presented. It is focussed on managing innovation within the FFE of NPD. It takes the form of a new and novel online web service that guides and supports SMEs in writing a multi-stakeholder design brief.

No description available.

GPS-enabled wayfinding interfaces (i.e. digital maps) are now commonly used as wayfinding devices in urban locations. While these wayfinding interfaces provide increasingly accurate geographic and routing information, little attention has been paid to how novel information design approaches may support particular user-experiences within particular use-contexts. This practice-based research focuses on the design of GPS-enabled wayfinding interfaces within the use-context of urban recreational walking/wandering. In particular, it investigates how these interfaces could be designed to visually support situation awarenessin use. That is, awareness of one’s embodied involvement in the surrounding environment while using the interface. The enquiry progresses through two phases. In the first phase, a programme of semi-structured interviews are conducted with urban recreational walkers/wanderers. Analysis of the data reveals participants’ motivations to walk, their experience of exploratory wayfinding, as well as their use of wayfinding materials in general and GPS-enabled technology in particular. With regard to the latter,attention is paid to ways in which these wayfinding interfaces are negatively perceived. Here, it is identified that, amongst the group as a whole, the undermining of situation awareness (SA) and the negation of exploratory wayfinding practices are seen as significant issues. Having made this identification, an area for experimentation is framed and, within this, a design hypothesis is formulated. Next, in the enquiry’s second phase, a series of design experiments are undertaken in order to develop a novel wayfinding interface in response to this hypothesis. Here, an iterative development cycle leads to the design and testing of a mixed-fidelity working prototype interface through the application of qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis. By integrating and assessing the results, it is possible to assert that,for the majority of participants, SA-in-use was supported, thus verifying the hypothesis. Thereafter, the interface is presented as a practical response to the primary research question of the enquiry and, as such, is positioned as an artefactual contribution to knowledge. Then, through a graphic syntax analysis (Engelhardt 2002) of this artefact, a contextualised graphic syntax for design is generated. In setting out a series of principles, it provides an outline for the design of a GPS-enabled WI to visually support an urban recreational walker’s/wanderer’s situation awareness in use and, so, may guide/inform future designs. Further to this, in graphic syntax analysis, a reflection on the dynamic and interactive aspects of the interface leads to an extension of Engelhardt’s graphic syntax framework(2002) being proposed. Here, by expanding the framework’s scope, the description of the dynamic and interactive aspects of graphic representations is now made possible. It is held that this, in turn, may support the development of an expanded theory of graphic syntax.

The use of chemicals in the textile industry is increasingly recognized as a problem and a matter of public concern. A proper EU policy on the subject is still missing. However, as testified by the number of self-organized communities and activist campaigns emerging around this theme, a demand for higher transparency is rising from the base of society. A kit made of a new label graphic; a hyperspectral camera and a mobile app have been design as a possible strategy to allow fashion companies to better meet the needs of their consumers. This final configuration opens up for a reflection about design practice, trust and transparency.

No description available.

Electronic textiles (e­‐textiles) are created by the amalgamation of electronics and textiles, where electronics are integrated into or onto fabric substrates. Woven textiles are specifically considered in this thesis to integrate electronics into textiles' orthogonal architecture. This thesis investigates 'How can the weaving process be manipulated to make woven e-­textiles with integrated electronics?' The methodological approach taken is practice based research carried out via a technical materials approach and creative craft methods. An investigation of woven e-­textiles through design led practice and woven expertise is presented. Previously, woven e-­textiles have been investigated either via technical material approaches, (where the main emphasis remains on function) or via creative craft methods, (which emphasise experimental forms, manipulate integration methods and apply craft based knowledge). Both of these approaches have presented only limited investigation of unobtrusive integrated electronics in woven e-­textiles, and woven structures have not been fully utilised to support the integration. The research applies reflective practice through a design process model; this is based on the researcher's previous weaving expertise and designing methods. The work investigates how woven construction may be manipulated to develop novel integrated woven e-­textiles. It was found that five woven approaches were particularly of value for electronics integration. These were the use of double cloth, the integration of multiple functions into the textiles as part of the weaving, the use of complex weaving techniques to attach and integrate components, the use of inlay weft weaving and the manipulation of floats (free floating threads). The thesis makes original contributions to knowledge, including identification of key stages in the woven e-­textile design process, identification and application of advanced weaving techniques to facilitate integrated woven e-­textiles, and compilation of a systematic record of woven e-­‐textile techniques as a technical woven repository. Underpinning design principles that influence the developed e-­textile outcomes are identified. A range of woven e-­textile samples are designed and made. Three specific examples including an actuator ('RGB colour mixer'), a circuit ('corrugated pleat LED v2') and a soft module ('battery holder module v4'), are described in detail to illustrate their development using the e-­textile design process model. The knowledge gained has potential to be applied to industrial woven processes for e-­textiles.