A technology-based design approach

Applied research struggles to find appropriate uses for its technologies. As I have talked with designers, I learned that a typical design process, such as design thinking, that focuses on the users is not working in this environment.

My thesis provides designers with a process to work with new technologies. Most strategies today start with the user, but we need a process that begins with the technology. Designing for one technology allows us to create a range of solutions for all different kinds of users.

The process focuses on analyzing, mapping, and interpreting technology while keeping the user in mind. Developing use cases requires us to take the megatrends of our society and the individual needs of our users into account. With Gardner Hype Cyles, Technology Readiness Levels, the Megatrend Map, Szenario Analysis, Lead Users, and many more tools, we can start the process around a new technology.

This process enables us to develop solutions based on the same technology for different users. This is unlike any user-centered approach that deals with different technologies, but is restricted to one user group.

User-centered approaches are still essential for designers, but this new and technology-based process allows us to approach technology differently. By starting with it.