Implementing and assessing the hybrid ideation space: a cognitive artefact for conceptual design

Actual 3D modelling tools and virtual reality systems are affecting creativity during the early stages of the design process. They are often used as communication tools (passive) rather than ideation tools (active) because of their interface complexity. Among other reasons, this is due to abstract commands that demand precision in the execution and always suggest inconsistent default values. This situation is hindering the representational conversation and cognitive artefacts during the design process. Being adapted to this task, ideation is still being done through analogue tools such as sketches and physical models, which are direct ways of representation with the ambiguity, inaccuracy and abstraction of their intuitive depictions. This paper presents the implementation and evaluation of a new innovative system: the Hybrid Ideation Space. This system allows users to sketch and make models all around them in real-time and in scale using a digital tablet and an immersive projection device.