6 User Activity Matters: An Activity Theory …
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6.5.2 Applying the Toolkit in Collaborative Design Workshops
Two design workshops were conducted to explore how the ACD toolkit can be
used in collaborative group idea generation sessions. In total, 12 participants were
recruited through the authors’ professional networks. 8 participants were Ph.D. candidates who worked in the computer-aided and engineering-related design field. The
other 4 participants specialized in product and service design. Given their knowledge
and experience in design ideation, these 4 participants (D1–D4) were regarded as
design experts in the present study. We evenly distributed the 12 participants into
two workshops based on the participants’ background. Each workshop consisted of 6
participants, 4 participants with basic design knowledge background, 1 junior design
expert, and 1 senior design expert.
The design workshop was comprised of three steps. In the first step, all participants
were given a brief introduction of the on-pack date labelling design challenges.
Following that, we carried out a 20–30 min focus group discussion for participants
to reflect on the food consumption topic and exchange opinions. In the third step,
a brief introduction of how to use the ACD toolkit was given to all participants.
After that, participants were split into two groups. Each group was given one ACD
toolkit and asked to use the toolkit to generate early-stage design ideas. Each idea
generation session took around 5–10 min. After each session, the two groups were
asked to briefly present their interpretation of the Activity Design Cards with their
design ideas that were derived from the cards. The third step took around 30–40 min.
In total, the design workshop lasted for approximately 75–90 min.
During the workshop, the researcher mainly played a moderator’s role. After
the workshops, follow-up one-to-one interviews were conducted with the 4 design
experts we identified previously. The goal of the interview was to gather design
experts’ opinions regarding the content and the usability of the toolkit from an expert’s
point of view, thus helping us to develop an in-depth understanding of the strengths
and limitations that the ACD toolkit may have in real design practices.
6.5.3 Applying the Toolkit in Individual Ideation Session
In order to evaluate the use of the toolkit in individual usage scenarios, we recruited
4 participants (P1–P4) who have worked in the food packaging industry. The design
challenges that the participant received were identical to the collaborative workshops.
Each interview lasted around 45–65 min. Similar to the design workshop procedures,
first, we started the interview by introducing the specific design challenge. And then
we encouraged participants to reflect on their usage of date labelling attributes in
their daily food consumption activities. Following that, we carried out the individual
idea generation session by introducing the ACD toolkit.
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6.5.2 Applying the Toolkit in Collaborative Design Workshops
Two design workshops were conducted to explore how the ACD toolkit can be
used in collaborative group idea generation sessions. In total, 12 participants were
recruited through the authors’ professional networks. 8 participants were Ph.D. candidates who worked in the computer-aided and engineering-related design field. The
other 4 participants specialized in product and service design. Given their knowledge
and experience in design ideation, these 4 participants (D1–D4) were regarded as
design experts in the present study. We evenly distributed the 12 participants into
two workshops based on the participants’ background. Each workshop consisted of 6
participants, 4 participants with basic design knowledge background, 1 junior design
expert, and 1 senior design expert.
The design workshop was comprised of three steps. In the first step, all participants
were given a brief introduction of the on-pack date labelling design challenges.
Following that, we carried out a 20–30 min focus group discussion for participants
to reflect on the food consumption topic and exchange opinions. In the third step,
a brief introduction of how to use the ACD toolkit was given to all participants.
After that, participants were split into two groups. Each group was given one ACD
toolkit and asked to use the toolkit to generate early-stage design ideas. Each idea
generation session took around 5–10 min. After each session, the two groups were
asked to briefly present their interpretation of the Activity Design Cards with their
design ideas that were derived from the cards. The third step took around 30–40 min.
In total, the design workshop lasted for approximately 75–90 min.
During the workshop, the researcher mainly played a moderator’s role. After
the workshops, follow-up one-to-one interviews were conducted with the 4 design
experts we identified previously. The goal of the interview was to gather design
experts’ opinions regarding the content and the usability of the toolkit from an expert’s
point of view, thus helping us to develop an in-depth understanding of the strengths
and limitations that the ACD toolkit may have in real design practices.
6.5.3 Applying the Toolkit in Individual Ideation Session
In order to evaluate the use of the toolkit in individual usage scenarios, we recruited
4 participants (P1–P4) who have worked in the food packaging industry. The design
challenges that the participant received were identical to the collaborative workshops.
Each interview lasted around 45–65 min. Similar to the design workshop procedures,
first, we started the interview by introducing the specific design challenge. And then
we encouraged participants to reflect on their usage of date labelling attributes in
their daily food consumption activities. Following that, we carried out the individual
idea generation session by introducing the ACD toolkit.