A method to solve the communication gap between designers and users

Abstract

There are always discrepancies when abstract design concepts are transferred to solid products. How to make sure that design concepts are conveyed exactly via products? To develop the early stage prototypes for tests and surveys is one of the solutions. The research applies POE (Post-Occupancy Evaluation) on prototypes of students' design cases repeatedly. The result revealed that product prototype POE can anticipate the performances of products in final evaluation as an evaluation can predict post-production consumer reception. It suggests that performances of product prototype by POE would be clarified if extraneous variables are under strict control in advance. Two cases show chaos phenomenon, to probe into the field of students' design activities with grounded theory might help to unearth some discovery. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.