A Design Process for Creative Technology

Creative Technology is a new bachelor programme at the University of Twente. Goal of Creative Technology is to design products and applications that improve the quality of daily life in its manifold aspects, building on Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The application domains range from recreation to work, from entertainment to learning and from health to art. A paradigm of Creative Technology is to make use of existing technology in novel combinations –in contrast to developing new technology. In this paper we identify and elaborate the Design Methods of Creative Technology in a consistent overview. On one side, the focus on human daily life suggests that user centred design approaches from Industrial Design and Interaction Design are relevant for Creative Technology. On the other side, the development of prototypes will make use of “classical” engineering design principles. Between these areas of design is a field that is not covered by other disciplines: the exploration of the potential of existing ICT technology, focussing on applicability for the user. To foster this process, our design method is a balanced combination of Divergence-Convergence and Spiral models of design practice. The purpose of this model is mainly for education. However, for Creative Technology as a multidisciplinary field, it is also relevant to position itself in contrast to the neighbouring disciplines, which in our context are Industrial Design Engineering and ICT.