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Customer-Centric Luxury Fashion Store Experiences: A Case Study Approach
No full textThis paper explores current approaches to customer-centric experiential strate-gies in a luxury fashion context, through an analysis of two UK luxury retailer case studies: Anya Hindmarch and MatchesFashion. While earlier studies have shown the importance of the physical luxury store, emphasis on customer experience (CX) and aspects related to service interactions that lead to pleasurable experi-ences remain nascent. Underpinned by interrelated theoretical constructs – cus-tomer experience, store atmospherics and retail design – and taking an explora-tory, qualitative approach (including documents, expert interviews and store ob-servation), the research promulgates the dimensions comprising customer-centric physical store experiences in luxury fashion. In doing so, it is the first known study to offer a conceptual framework to advance scholarly and practi-tioner luxury customer experience research
Spatial justice through immersive art: an interdisciplinary approach
No full textThis paper explores spatial justice in urban environments through immersive art and design, focusing on Amsterdam and Houston. It presents a case study from the Venice Biennale 2023, showcasing art\u27s potential in fostering inclusive urban spaces. The study delves into the socio-political complexities of urban areas, highlighting often-ignored liminal spaces and their tensions and possibilities. Immersive art emerges as a transformative medium, capable of challenging and reshaping perceptions of space and addressing systemic socio-economic disparities. Adopting a transdisciplinary approach, the research combines insights from various fields to enrich discussions on spatial justice and inspire urban transformation. By examining liminal spaces and the \u27phygital\u27 nexus, the paper challenges conventional urban narratives and advocates for more inclusive and equitable urban strategies
Delinking design: Decolonialidad & Transmodernidad in future design education in Abya Yala
No full textThe work presented here interrogates the future of design education by presenting the early development of a new curriculum in a small rural university in the P´urhepécha region, Mexico. The new undergraduate program is created drawing from the literature on decoloniality and transmodernity to reimagine design education. The interplay between this early work and a systematic inquiry of coloniality leads to new ways of thinking about design education and design at large in this context. This work contributes to a South-South dialogue seeking to undo coloniality in creative pedagogical practices and to reimagine what it means to design and to learn beyond the hegemony of modernity
A LLM-augmented Morphological Analysis Approach for Conceptual Design
No full textMorphological analysis is often used in the conceptual design process because it provides a structured and systematic approach to decompose design problems, improving the completeness and diversity of creative solutions. However, it still relies heavily on designers\u27 professional knowledge and experience when decomposing design problems and proposing solutions, which is a challenge for designers. In this study, we propose an LLMs-augmented morphological analysis approach for conceptual design. We refine the design process as three main stages: decomposition, generation, and combination, offering targeted guidance and support to designers when applying morphological analysis. In addition, we introduced a feedback mechanism to develop more appropriate solutions to specific problems. Experimental results show that our approach improves the quality of innovative conceptual designs and reduces cognitive load. Furthermore, it augments the interactive experience between the designer and LLMs
Beyond human-centered empathy: tools and techniques to engage curiosity
No full textEmpathy has long held a central role in design. However, when exploring more-than-human design, empathy has definite limits. We feel empathy primarily toward humans. Our empathy may also extend to certain animals and few, if any, objects. This paper will explore the limits of empathy and argue that cultivating curiosity is a necessary first step in a more-than-human design approach. It introduces techniques to develop curiosity and offers ways to make our curiosity more durable. It will then trace the linguistic roots of care, an etymological ancestor to curiosity, and argue that care is also necessary. Because care is fostered differently than curiosity (although curiosity may be a catalyst), this paper will offer techniques on how to cultivate care. Finally, it offers reflective remarks on how design may re-conceptualize itself to more closely embrace care and curiosity through practices and processes
Design for Longevity (D4L): Project Your Future Self through Service and Technology
No full textAmid the advancement of technologies, robust socioeconomic systems, transformational healthcare systems, and sustainable wealth management, people not only live longer but want to live better: with purpose, delight, and respect (Coughlin, 2017). As lifespans extend, the traditional stages of life – learning, earning, and retiring – have transformed into multi-generational stages (Golden, 2022). The demographic shift and social-economical context have inspired and generated the concept of Design for Longevity (D4L), which emphasizes a sustainable life-long cycle (Lee et al., 2023; Ulrich et al., 2020; Sedini et al., 2020; Justice, 2019). One key factor to maintaining a better quality of life depends on strategic planning and executing the idea of D4L. Thus, D4L can be seen as a universal language that empowers individuals to make sustainable decisions with keeping longevity in mind (Attia & Gifford, 2023). We invite papers about case studies, methods, and theories to realize D4L\u27s vision according to angles: place (Meroni & Selloni, 2022), technology (Zakir Abdul Hamid & Suoheimo, 2023), and service (Miettinen, 2017). D4L in Wealth: envision financial planning, and how to enhance financial literacy. D4L in Health: reshape healthcare system, and how to transform social-economical platforms. D4L in Mobility: reimage mobility through multigenerational perspectives, especially active forms of mobility. D4L in Housing: designing social, collaborative, shared, and aided habitats D4L in Place: redefine living community, placemaking, housing, and city planning. D4L in Technology: empower emergent technologies to improve multigenerational societies. D4L in Service: cultivate new service system infrastructure to enhance physical and cognitive wellbein
Augmenting soundscapes of ICUs: a Collaborative approach
No full textIn this study we investigated characteristics for designing soundscape augmentations within Intensive Care Units (ICUs). We introduced soundscape perception and fundamental needs as the basis of design strategies for augmenting sound-scapes experienced by critically ill patients. We used results of a previous study, where in interviews regarding current ICU soundscapes, patients revealed four concerns and underlying needs. They found that ICU soundscapes were alienating, unvaried, unfamiliar, and disruptive. These insights were used as contextual inputs in a collaborative workshop with ICU nurses, resident doctors, and researchers. In separate groups, they developed three system concepts named Smart Environmental Assistant, Patient Soundscape Dashboard, and Familiar Wake-ups. Based on qualities of these concepts, we found five characteristics for designing effective soundscape augmentation systems for ICUs: personalized, user-friendly, integrated, humanized, and familiar. These characteristics, rooted in perspectives of various ICU experts, are essential for reshaping the ICU soundscape into a more positive listening experience
Designing as Infrastructuring to Impact Policy
No full textDesign for policy discourse is often focused on how design supports policy making in central government. And yet, there are other design practices that are contributing to policy development. We frame our work as designing for policy, design work that is happening outside formal policy space, aimed at impacting policy. This paper presents learnings based on a series of co-design interventions with young people in four English local authorities to a) design age-appropriate Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programmes and b) impact national policy. In expanding what might be considered ‘design for policy’, we hope to draw attention to considerations required when trying to influence policy through the designing of public services. We adopt an infrastructuring approach to help us learn about and influence policy whilst also delivering value at local and national levels. This paper contributes to ongoing work to understand how designers contribute to policy making
Design for social prescribing: bridging silos for health promotion
No full textSocial prescribing (SP) refers patients to community and social services that sup-port the individual’s social needs and that can bolster their overall health and well-being. SP offers a promising approach to addressing wide-spread mental health issues, social determinants of health, and growing social isolation. While SP is integrated into the national health systems of countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Japan, it has only recently begun to take root in the United States (US). This paper presents “Design for Social Prescribing”, a re-search project led by the Design Laboratory at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health that explored how the structured use of design could help expand and accelerate the SP in the US. The research was structured on advanced design models to support multi-stakeholder collaboration in three phases. This paper outlines key learnings from these phases, including their processes, approaches, and outcomes
Eye-tracking: Understanding the WHY behind shopping behavior
No full textThis paper discusses a mixed method study in which we combine eye-tracking with semi-structured in-depth interviews, conducted at two similar stores of a re- tailer in the cosmetics sector. With this study the retailer wanted to investigate, on the one hand, how customers navigate and move around the store and, on the other hand, what they think of the design and experience of the two stores. Through this qualitative research method, you get a very rich set of information that mainly provides insights into the why behind shopping behavior. The results concerning shop- ping behavior indicate that in this store customers mainly navigate at eye level through product recognition. On the evaluation of the shopping experience, customers fairly unanimously recognize which elements are positive and which are more likely to be disruptive in a store design