An investigation of strategies for discovering design methods in an online repository

Abstract

This thesis investigates strategies for finding design methods using theDesignExchange, specifically during ideation. theDesignExchange is an online repository of over 300 design methods. While aimed at practitioners, the site has the potential to be a valuable tool in the classroom. However, students often have difficulty selecting an appropriate method for their work. This thesis poses two research questions. First, does featuring specific design methods on a page change students' familiarity and confidence with those methods over simply presenting them in no particular order? Second, what draws a student to select a particular design method on a page? Findings reveal that highlighting specific design methods on theDesignExchange does not impact the number of methods students recognize and feel confident with. The findings also reveal that students are more likely to browse, rather than search, for design methods on the repository, and that they are attracted to methods primarily because of the method's view counts and titles. Students perceived theDesignExchange as useful for finding new methods, specifically during ideation after exhausting methods they already knew. This second study provided user feedback for the site, validating and directing future site development.