Definition
Multi-specific UI: a user interface with which multiple devices can be controlled
through rich specific interactions related to the devices and their functionality.
Multi-specific UI's
February – June 2021, Eindhoven
Design Research Project
Using a Research through Design approach, this project aimed to discover how multi-specific User Interfaces (UI’s) for complex smart home systems can be designed. A framework was developed to define the type of user interfaces that can be designed, as well as the approaches that can be used.
Design Research Process
Exploring Context
At the start of this project, it was explored what multi-specific user interfaces are, how this concept is currently included in literature and which examples can be found in the everyday life.
Additionally, the term multi-specific UI was further defined, since no clear definition could be found in existing literature.
Designing a multi-specific UI
After defining the multi-specific UI scope, a design exploration was conducted to develop a multi-specific UI. Through sketching an rapid prototyping, a wall-mounted interface was designed.
Co-design approach
During the development of the multi-specific user interface, it was found that this task was very challenging and no easy solution could be found. Therefore, it was decided to conduct research with fellow designers using a co-design approach. Through collectively designing multi-specific UI’s, insights could be gained in the variety of approaches to designing a multi-specific UI.
Two co-design sessions were organized, during which 7 master Industrial Design and Interaction design students, 3 PhD candidates within the direction of design and 3 design professionals participated. During these sessions, the participants generated ideas for multi-specific UI’s and reflected on the qualities of these.
Result
The ideas generated and insights gained from the co-design sessions were thematically analyzed. Firstly, it was found that two different approaches could be taken. On the one hand, designers could start designing one interface, after which they mapped the different device functionalities on it. On the other hand, several designers started designing interfaces for the variety of devices connected to it in parallel, after which these interfaces were merged together. Next to that, a distinction can be made between user interfaces with multiple or just one locus of interaction.
