Challenges and Opportunities in Remote Prototyping: A Case-Study during COVID-19

DS 116: Proceedings of the DESIGN2022 17th International Design Conference

Year: 2022
Editor: Mario Štorga, Stanko Škec, Tomislav Martinec, Dorian Marjanović
Author: Nuno Miguel Martins Pacheco (1), Anand Vazhapilli Sureshbabu (1), Elena Dieckmann (2), Maria Apud Bell (2), Stephen Green (2), Peter Childs (2), Markus Zimmermann (1)
Series: DESIGN
Institution: 1: Technical University of Munich, Germany; 2: Imperial College London, United Kingdom
Section: Organisation, Collaboration and Management
Page(s): 231-240
DOI number: https://doi.org/10.1017/pds.2022.25
ISSN: 2732-527X (Online)

Abstract

Collaboration is common practice within design disciplines and beyond. Brainstorming, discussions, and prototyping tend to occur within the same physical space. The reduction of human interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted these practices. In this paper, we focus on the possibilities and challenges of remote prototyping of four student teams by combining a double diamond approach with tools to overcome remote work challenges. The results were analyzed to understand crucial tools, advantages, and obstacles. The key challenges and opportunities were then identified and examined.

Keywords: collaborative design, prototyping, design tools, supportive technologies