Adapting flows for hybrid interface design
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School of Arts, Design and Architecture |
Master's thesis
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Author
Date
2024
Department
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Master’s Programme in Design
Language
en
Pages
80
Series
Abstract
The aim of this thesis is to adapt flow methods for the design of interfaces with digital and physical elements, which may be referred to as hybrid interfaces. The motivation for this topic arose from a design project conducted by the author for the startup VitalSigns, which covered the user interface design of their smart stethoscope “Response”. Flow methods were utilized in the project, but since these methods tend to be oriented towards the design of digital interfaces, they posed several challenges when applied to hybrid interfaces such as the smart stethoscope. In order to explore how flows could be better suited for hybrid interface design, this study considers the following three research questions. The first is: What were the potential limitations in how user flows were used in the Response project? This question is explored by reflecting on the project’s design process, revealing three key flow-related challenges. The second research question is: How might elements from alternative flow and flow-like methods be combined or incorporated into flows for the design of hybrid interfaces? Four methods: flowcharts, wireflows, hierarchical task analysis (HTA) and physigrams are examined in order to provide a theoretical foundation for the study. Elements potentially suitable for hybrid UI design are identified from each method and compared. The methods are also compared across the stages of the double diamond design process to find overlaps and to narrow down the most suitable options for hybrid UI design. The final research question is: How could the adapted flow approach be used in practice for designing hybrid interfaces? To answer this question, findings from the method and project review are consolidated into a practical guide for designing hybrid interfaces. In conclusion, the study proposes an approach for hybrid UI design that centers around the use of flowcharts and wireflows. The approach incorporates the “stop rule” concept from HTA in order to more clearly define suitable levels of detail in different design stages as well as simplified physigrams in order to more effectively map out physical control interactions when creating detailed wireflows. The approach also suggests an order of control design activities in relation to the flow process. Potential limitations of the approach include considerable variations in how hybrid UI design may be approached as well as the fact that the proposed approach is yet to be tested in new design projects.Description
Supervisor
Paavilainen, HeidiThesis advisor
Salovaara, AnttiKeywords
user flows, hybrid interfaces, UI/UX design, case study, flowchart, wireflow, hierarchical task analysis, physigram
