Bridge for buttons - a GUI design methodology applied in non-GUI consumer product design

Abstract

This paper describes the experience gained in the case study of adapting the Bridge, a GUI design method to the design of non-GUI interactive consumer products. An industrial design consultancy was looking for an efficient way of discussing the initial design ideas for a product and its user interface (UI) with the client and the client's software design consultant. The Bridge, which is a fast participatory method for bridging the gap between user requirements and the design of object-oriented graphical user interfaces (GUI) was applied in the task of designing a smart product - an interactive consumer electronic product. The goal was to design a software and hardware user interface concept in a well-structured and fruitful manner with limited time and expenses. A further goal was to assist the industrial designers in participating in their client's strategic design decision making and in the design of the overall user experience, instead of conducting a plain project-level product design. The solution was an application of the Bridge method, which was user-centered, but not participatory. The approach was new to the participating companies. The results were promising, both in getting concrete design ideas in a very short time to support decision making, and in facilitating new kind of communication between the participants very early in the process.