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When analyzing four related fields of expertise industrial design engineering, sustainable product development systems engneering and sustainable system innovation ie appears that curren

New to Improve

The Mutual Influence between New Products and Societal Change Processes

New to Improve

The Mutual Influence between New Products and Societal Change Processes

Peter JOORE

New to Improve

The Mutual Influence between New Products and Societal Change Processes

procfichnfe

ter verkniging van de graad van doctor

‘an de Technische Universitet Dalfe cop gezag van de Rector Maghficus profi KAM Luyben

‘ooraiter van het College voor Promotes

in het openbaar te verdedigen op dinsdag 30 november 2010 om 12.30 uur door

Jan Pleter JOORE ingenieur industrieel ontwerpen

‘geboren te Aslsmecr

Dit proctschrite Is goedgekeurd door de promotor:

Prof dri Brezet

‘Samenstelling van de promotiecommisste:

Rector Magnificus, voorztter

Prof dr i.) C Brezet, Technische Universitet Delft, promator

De 5, Svester, coprometor

Prof dr, WJ, Ockels, Technische Universiteit Dele

Prof dr B.V Kandachar, Technische Universitet Delt

Prof dri AC Brombacher Technische Universitet Eindhoven

Prof dr MP Hokkert, Universitit Usrecht

Dr APM, Wetarings, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scentic Research TNO

[Now to Improve ~ The Mutua Influence between New Products and Sacletal Change Processes Peter Joore

“Thesis Delf University of Technology, Delt, The Netherands

ISBN-13: 978-90-6562-254-9

“Thanks to NHL Unversity of Applied Sciences, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

Cover dasign support by Studio Renate Boore, Den Haag, The Netherlands

“Translation suppore by Frank van Thienen, Vernon BC Canada

LIZ Ash toward sustainability

113 An ambitious definition of ncustal design

1.2 Current knowledge station

121 Industral Design Engineering

122 Sustanaole Product Development

23 Susainabe System Innovation

124 Systems Engreering

125 Oversew ofthe Fels af experice

L3 Research question

14.1 Subquestion |: Product and cocety (what)

132 Subquestion 2: Froblems and abjectves (hy)

133 Subquestion 3: Desa process ("how")

134 Subquestion 4 Designer and actors (‘who")

L4 Research approach

1.5 Structure ofthe thes

1.6 Definitions

161 System

162 Product productsenice, product-service system

163 Society societal ster, soco-tecnial system

164 Design innonation, product design product imovation

165 Design pracess design process model, design model

166 System innovation tanston, secital change process

22 Research Phage I: Problem Situation |

23 Research Phase 2: Tentative Theory

24 Research Phase 3: Error Elimination

241 Selection of research strategy

242 Selection of practal expenments

‘et lnprore ~The Mtl fence betwen New Prods ond SdetalChonge Processes

243 Evaluation of experiments vericaion of propostions

125 Research Phaze 4 Reflection on Problem Situation 2

26 Validity, elabilty and relevance

3.2_ Anew relauonship between product and society

321 New products influence society

333 Societal problems and objectives

34 Anew ralationship between designer and other actors

341 The rte of actors

342 The role of the designer

42 Research issue |: Product and society

“421 Proguctand saciety~ industil Design Engnesring

422 Proguctand society Systems Engineering

423 Product and society Sustainable Product Development

424, Product and society ~ Sustainable Systern novation

43 Research issue 2: Problems and objectives

“43.1 Probleme and objectives - Industrial Design Engineering

432 Problems and objectives Systems Engneenng

433 Problems and objectives Sustairable Froduct Development

434 Problems and objectives ~ Sustainable Systern Innovation

44 Research issue 3: Design process

“44.1 Design process ~ Industrial Design Engineering

442 Design process ~ Systeme Engneerng

443 Design process ~ Sustainable Product Development

444° Design process ~ Sustainable System Innovation

45 Research issue 4: Designer and actors

451 Designer and actors ~ Industrial Design Engineering

452 Designer and actors ~ Systems Engneering

453 Designer and actors Sustainable Product Development|

454 Designer and actors ~ Sustainable System lanovation

46 Conclusions

Table of Comes

461 Concusons research sue |: Product and society

462 Concisons recearch sue 2 Problems ane objectives

463 Conclusions rerearch sue 3 Design process

464 Conclusions research sue 4 Designer and actors

465 Mapping the files of expertise on the conceptual model

47 Sumenary

Chapter 5: A Multilevel Design Model

511 Inroduetion

5.2 Hierarchical system structure, “the architecture of complexity”

53 Selection of aggregation levels

54 Description of aggregation models

S41 Level Ps Product-Technology System

542 Level Q:Product-Serice System

543 Level R Socio-Techrca Sytem

544 Level Societl System

55 The Multlevel Design Model

5.6 Relationship with other models

561 Differences compared to conceptual mode!

562 Differences compared to systems enginering V-model

563 Diferences compared to dynamic multieve model

57 Propositions

571 P.Ol: Design proces takes place at aierent system levels

572 F.02 Systems at various agaregntion levels influence each other's functioning

573 9-03: Functioning of product depends onthe system that ita part of

574 P04 New procucts can help to achieve societal objective

575.05: Contnbution from the designer varies by system level

576 Relationship between propositions research question and research subquesions|

5B Verification ofthe new model, project selection

59 Summary

Chapter 6: Autonomous Elderly

61 The social challenge -" Autonomous Eiderly

G11 Aging inthe Netheriands

6.1.2 Government vision onthe siáedy

G13 Refecton — Organcational context of thie project

62 New Intiative Sustainable System Innovation

621 Approach "Sustainable System Innovation Method”

622 Releclon ~ Preparing the New htiative Sustainable System Innovation

63 Cooperation with De Woonmensen, Apeldoorn

631 Cooperation between TNO and locaton Apeldoorn

632 Development of assisted ining center Hubertus Dneschoten

633 Reaction tothe future vions

634 Refecion—MFC asa socio-technical system

64 Future scenarios and future visions

641 Future societal scenarios

107

og

Hồ

im m

‘et lnprore ~The Mtl fence betwen New Prods ond SdetalChonge Processes

652 _ Reflection = Looking forthe "Egg of Coluus

653 Concept development within subeector telemontoring

654 Future vison subsector telemontoring

655 Guide Me development by stucent team

656 Reflection ~ Some dely along the way

66 Gude He and My-Bodyguard

661 My-Bodyguard BV

662 Reflecton —maleng connections

663 Users study Guise Me system

664 Rellection ~ moving at dierent speeds

{67 Detail development Guide Me

67.1 Reflection ~ supporting the development of the Guide Me

672 Coopertion between My-Badyguard and TNO

673 Cooperation of My-Bodyguard with other parbers

674 Detaled development ofthe Guide Me system

675 Reflection ~ drect involvements ished

68 De Groene Hoven

{681 Implementation of inovatve technology by De Woonmensen

682 _ Implementation of mobi am stene

683 Reflection - ntonal stuaton on agg

69 Summary

Chapter 7: Youth in Motion

741_ Societal Challenge - Youth in Motion

ZL Healthy moves

712 Chidren in print neighborhoods

7.2 Organizational context

721 The goverment, NOCYNSF

722 Reflection - TNO Sport Stichting Sports and Technology

723 IneoSportEU,InnoSportNL lnoSport Brabant

73 Make Me Move

731 Computer technaogy: opportunity or hres?

732 Reflection ~ Start of he Male Me Move caoperstion

733 Make Me Move project,

734 Reflection ~ Student project Lighting Ties

735 Development of the pley floor

736 Use ofthe pay foor

737 Reflection ~ Creating pulcty around the subject

14 Sports Complex Eindhaver-North

TAI Sports and recreation in Eindhoven

743 Sports Promotion Feld Lab Einchover-North

743 Rellecton Setting up the fla lb ntiative

75 Xperience Area and Design for Movement

751 Xperience Ares

752 Design for Movement

753 Rellecton ~ Intellectual property rights

7.6 Playground of the future

7Á Eautton of sc innovative playgrounds

762 Playground ofthe faranay hare

763 Rellecton ~ Criteria for secess

Ma

ie H4 M6 l6

Table of Comes

771 Moving with computer games

772 Eftzone by Embedded Finese

78 Sports, Phy and Activity Square

781 Development ofthe Sports Pay and Actity Square

782 _ Reflecton ~ Cooperating or going alone?

783 Reaizaton ofthe Sport Sports, Pay and Activity Square

784 Reflection Some thnge take time

179 Small Business Innovation Research - SBIR

79.1 Feasbiity study Make Me Move pay sles

792 Valorzaton ofthe Make Me Move ply les

710 Reflection - Societal impact

822 Evaluation P-0| on the bass af “Autonomous Elery” project

823 Evaluation P-0| on the bass af “Youth in Maton’ project,

824 CendusoaPdl

183 P-02; Systeme at various apgregtion levels influence each others functioning

B31 Invoduetion

832 Evaluation P-02 on the basis af “Autonomous Ee" project

833 Evaluation P-02 on the bass af "Youth m Maton’ project

834 CendusenP42

.84 P-03:Fưneioning efproduetx dependent en th sÿtem that itis apart of

B41 Invodueton

8:42 Evaluation P-03 onthe bas of "Autonomous Eder project

843 Evaluation ?-03 on the bass af “Youth in Maton’ project

844 Concusion P-03,

185 P-04: New products can help to achieve societal abjectives|

B51 Introduction

52 Evaluation P-04 on the bas of "Autonomous Elderly” project

853 Evaluation P-04 on the bass af "Youth im Mation’ project

854 Concuson P-04

186 P-0S: Contribution from the designer varies by system level

B61 Invoduetion

62 _ Evaluation P-05 on the bass of the “Autonomous Eder” project

863 Evaluation P-05 on the bass of "Youth in Maton” project

B4 CeneusenP5

87 Summary

9 Chapter 9: Conclusions and Recommendations

9.1 Ineroduetion

9.2 Product and society

921 Response to subquestion |: product and society

922 _ Reflection product and society

93 Problems and objectives

93.1 Response to subquestion 2: problems and objectives

932 Refecton problems anc abjecwver

l6

148 las

ae L8

158

159 lái les

es

165

es

lá lóc ler lợi

78

78

79 lại lay tas lạc

186 lạc H7

189 T1 190

‘et lnprore ~The Mtl fence betwen New Prods ond SdetalChonge Processes

94 Design process

541 Response to subquestion 3 design process

942 Rellecbon design process

95 Designer and actors

951 Response to subquestion 4: designer and actors

952 Reflection designer and actors

96 Conclusion

9611 Response tothe research question

962 Contibution o body of inowedge

9.7 Umitations

98 Potential fllow-up research

9811 Further testing ofthe mutleve! design model

982 Appieabuty af the model for non-physical products

983 The influence of worckiw on the dasign process

984 Development ofthe cycle multievel model

985 Designing at ane system level ata tine

986 Recprocal infvence between system levels

987 Avalable design tools a exch system level

988 Competences of the desgner at each system level

989 Collective cent association

99 Consequences ofthe study

99.1 Consequences for designers

992 Consequences for entrepreneurs

993 Consequences for government

984 Consequences far societal organizations

995 Consequences for education

Appendix A: Structure of “Autonomous Elderly” project

Appendix B: Structure of “Youth In Motion” project

Appendix C: A Cycile Multilevel Design Mode!

Preface

If youre like me youll consider the preface to be the most interesting part of ny thesis, Between the lina of the preface you often dicover the human side ofthe study How di the research process work out) Were there any setbacks during the project) And how did one manage t Fecover? Tt wil tll the story of who arsited the author durng the long and often challenging journey towards the successful completion ofthe thesis In my cate this jourmey started about 25, years ago, when I entered the Industrial Design program at the Technical Unversity in Delf in

985, This was a great combination of technology and crestivty although | frequently wondered what the added value was ofall those new products that had been and wil be developed After

iy graduate project with Profesor lan jacobs, whore I designed a partion wal fora Fokker 50 turpiane inten, | relly wanted to gun more practical experience in the fel of expertise of Industral design

In the years since | have gained experiance with nearly all diferent phases of the product innovation process, from designing synthetic injection mold products at Bema Kunstetoflen in ierkaee, 19 seling office furrture a¢ Ahrend Interior Designs in Rotterdam, and from setting up

2 small design agency with TIT Design in Delt to the development of airport designe in paces such as Moscow and Hang Kong with NKI Group in Dongen In 1999'l became a concept developer at TNO Industry in Delft in the department Sustainable Product Innovation of Tom

‘an der Horst Tom had recently set up aint venture withthe TU Delft Design for Sustainability research group under the leadership of Han Brezet Ths collaboration was known a8 Kathays tnd ts objective was to achieve “leapog innovations" that would result in a radial reduevon of the ecologieal impact of products and systems This way f thinking was completely new for me at that tine but it didnt take long before working on new product-serwice combinations and striving for sustaimble system innovations became familar terntory During a number of extensive EU, research projects | was introduced to the more visionary approach of Professor Ezio Manzi of the Poltecnico di Miane, which added an addtional socal component to the pursuit of a sustainable society

(One of the more memorable projects that | had the pleasure of leading at TNO, was the Micka program, targeting 3 radical novation of individual mobility over a short distanee Together with Drganizitons such as Nike, Gazelle andthe TU Delf, we developed an innovate electric vehicle, incuding the accompanying services, In the project we alzo collaborated on the concept development of a <ycing highway between Eindhoven and Helmond From our perspective dis project was 2 huge leap forward in knowledge development in the area of sustainable systom Innovations ae we ware working smutaneourly on product + service + infrastructure + legisation The PhD researcher who studied the project did not really agree with this and concluded that the system innovation paradigm “lacks clear Boundaries in both the amon and the context’ as there appeared to bea lot ef uncereainty about the relationship beoween short term and long-term objectives In addition he concied that environmental amibtion mut in fact

be considered as 2 “non-rational ctor leading fo an “escalation of commitments" ofthe experts invalved in a certain innovation process In all hanety, some of those involved had the impression that this particular researcher had not fully grasped the intent of the project On the other hard, the system-orientad design approach apparently needed 2 much better slenifc foundation which twas one of the important motivations co start analzing all ths myself in a more systemate

‘Newt lproe~ The Mal fence betwen New Prods and Sct! Change Process

‘An opportunity to pu this into practice vas a substantial systemorianted innovation project Under the leadership of TNO colleague Reb Wetarings The subproject that was coordinated by Ena van Sandic ultimately wae one of the two experiments that form the foundation of th

“suẩy, The lively and profound discussions about the direction of the "Autonomous Elderly" project and the continuous puzzle between the “bg picture” and the "small laments’ has in fact lad the foundation for the multilevel design model as presented in this then On the mare practical sde, the enthusiastic cooperation from entrepreneurs Edwin Siemerink and Rob Kupers fof My-Bodyguard played a vital role inthis period Inthe meantime, developments within TNO

‘continued, resulting na move fram Delf to Eindhoven In the departments of, cansecaivly, Herm Verbeek, Jan Smits and Jesle van der Brosk | had the peiilege of working on the application of rapid manufacturing technology and the use of wearable sensor systems for fenhancing human performance, During that period | had the privilege of beng involved inthe eariy

“tages of the new degree program Industral Design at the Technieal Unversity in Eindhoven Here | became familar with concepts auch at ambient intelligence, persuasive computing and tangle interaction, or in other words with the radical influence of information and communication technology on the design process During ths period, together with colleagues

“Tinus Jongere and Ingrid Bakker of the TINO department Prevention and Health and many TUle expert, among which professor Berry Eggen and researcher Tide Bear, we were able to kik

"art several design projets surrounding the question how new products can motivate young people to become more active physically, The involved clare colborstion with Henny Beeksulder and Mark van Roaijen of the municipality of Sndhoven, and with Cees van Bla! and Hans van Breukelen of the Stichting Sports and Technology Thi collaboration formed the foundation for the "Youth in Motion" project which i the second experiment that is dicuseed in

sh study

Somewhere in 2005 | mentioned to Professor Han Brezet the idea of working towards a thesis rysele We knew each other from the Kathalys cooperation and the Mitla project where | primarily played the rle ofa rigidly organized project manager and he was most the visionary Drofestor His enthusiastic responte started the ball rling and we agreed that Dr Sacha Sivester would be closely assocated with this process In the Kathalye period | hod already discovered that these two professionals complement each other beauty, where Han is something lice the enthusastcatnker who provides the daring center pass, whila Sacha isthe relable mưHẫelđer who provides the orginationa structure Ie must be noted here that eventually i of course the cooperation within the team that determines success And £0 completa the metaphor in this ease | happen to be the lucky parson who has the privige of {coring the goal in he form of hs these,

‘To be honest in 2005 | sl had the rather naive bel that it murt be possible to wrap up such 3 thesis in ona, or no more than two years Ulumataly it took five years confess: To write thesis luring evening hours is 4 greater allege than I Pad anllpated The fact that eventual 1 was finished farly quickly v= partly due to the Executive Board of the NHL Unversity of Applied Sciences in Leeuwarden, In 2008, applied forthe poston of professor ("ector” in Dutch) inthe field of transsectoral innovation, One sơiet cendiuon for being hired was the successful completion ofa scientific thesis | was well on my way s0| declared solfassured that it would be

ro problem to finish i in less than a year “All righe bur just co make sure, wel give you two years and absolutely no more.” Ever since, Diane Keizer and Willem Sink have subtly reminded

‘me that tine is up at the end of 2010, encouraging me to enthusiastically focus on this exciting endeavor, Well i has taken qute a few evening hours but what do you know, is frished? What remains isto thank all of the people that have been involved in th voyage of exploration, who

‘aught me how genuine renewal ean actually come about and who have inspired me to pursue my

‘own promising visions fora suttaiable future | have already mentioned a number of them, but

‘the most important ones are yet to come,

My dearest wife Nynke, who always encouraged me to take up new initiatives, who invariably

supported me enthusiastically and who never made any suggestion that it might be an idea to throw in the towel, particularly when | spent a lot of weekends, evenings and holidays writing My parents, who have helped us consistently in various ways, and not jurt once ina while but during the entire five-year period, Regularly locking after the children was certainly no punishment for fither one of them, and Ie wat a great help to us, The other family members, who were always interested in the progress of my vrrtng for example when once again | was working 3 my computer during a hokaay in France And af course my three wonderful children, Hannah Steere tnd Pepi, who qute frequently ask me whether | am again working on "the book", invariably followed by the question "Are you almost fished?” When one of them recently looked atthe bookcase, she sincerely wondered whether all of those books on he shelves took that mach time ovwnte, while takes 20 ite te to aculy rea ther

‘That is indeed the next step thatthe ideas which are presented inthis document will now be read inthe hope that ít ean serve as an inspiration for many designers and other professionals who’ are occupied with aystem-oriented innovation 20 that they can design new products, fervces and sjsteme which are not only “new and improved’, But also “new to improve” the world in which we lve As for the impact of such a book, I do realze that is necessary to put things into perspective, ax concluded by the writer of the book Ecclesiastes, when he explain that the writing of new books wil never stop and that too much study wears you out Te put things jeven more into perspective, he aso observer that a the end, the Master Designer wil assess the cteral sustainability of his creation which again add 2 radically new perspectve to the discussion bout shore versus long-term objective But thats a subject for another research projct let's first sare with discussing this one

There's no end tothe publshing of books

and conston study wers you out 50 yer no good for anything ele

Tha est and ira words ths: Fear Cod Do what he tals You And that’ it

rently God will ing everything thot we do out nto the epen

and judge it according tots hidden intent whether i's good or ev

(Ecclesiastes 12 The Message)

‘et lnprore ~The Mtl fence betwen New Prods ond SdetalChonge Processes

Summary

‘The field of expertise of industral design is changing rapidly Where only 2 few decades 2go the focus of the designer wae ttaly on the development of tangle product nowadays ite about the development of ideas, plans, strategies, services and the creation of solutons instead of arefacts At the same time, there is a growing emphasis on the contribution of dasign to the reslzaden of global sustainability This means that new products should not only be "new and Improved", but alto "new to improve" the society in which they funcuen (hence the tile of this research)

However, it appears that translating this ambitious valon into realty is not s0 obvious When analyzing four related fields of expertise (industrial design engineering, sustainable product development systems engneering and sustainable system innovation) ie appears that current

‘derign and innoration models are either too focured onthe development of one singe producto fystem, and therefore deal neufcently with the socio-technical and societal agpect 3 hand, oF they may handle an abetracon level that is so hạn that the aspect of concrete product development Is not suffeiently dealt with, This conclusion has led to the following research question:

“How ean the design process and the role of designers be described (and potentially be structured) in such 3 way thatthe muta relationship between new products and the so technical or societal context in which these products function is ken into account ina systematic manner!

Bated on the analyst of curent design and innovation models, the demands for an ideal design

‘model are formulsted, I) This should preferably provie insight into the development of one new product wile inerinking it wich developments at the socio-technical and societal lave (2) Ie

$hould provide insight into the relationship between the problems and objectives that are being ret by means of the functioning of a product, compared to the societal problems and objectives that are being mat by meant of the functioning of a socio-technical system (3) lt shoud provide insight into the course of the product design process as related to the course of socio-techrical and societal change processes (4) And it should provide insight into the potential role of the designer in relation to indwidul companies as well asin relation to ether societal actors, These four ietucr together cover the what, why, how and who ofthe subject under investigmtion

‘Although existing models don't seem to ofer the desired insight it appears that distinguishing between various system or aggregtion levels may be an efectve way to provide the derired Understanding Tharefore 2 new multlevel design model iz developed which is bated on four system levels cht of the producttechnalogy system, the productervice system the sec {echnical system and that ofthe societal system, The new multilevel design model s subsequently tested by means ofan action research strategy inthe form of two prolonged dasign projects The fret project is called “Autonomous Elderly” and focuses on the societal challange that occurs 38 3 result ofthe aging of society In this project the development of anew assisted Iving center inthe Dutch city of Apeldoorn i interlinked with the development of the Guide Me, a personal tracking system that enables people with erly onset Alaheimer cence co iva independently for a lange

‘Newt lproe~ The Mal fence betwen New Prods and Sct! Change Process time, The second project i called “Youth in Motion’, focusing on the societal challange posed by

‘the fact tha many young people are overweight as a result of lack of activ In this project, the evelopment of 2 Sports Promotion Feld Lab” inthe Dutch city of Eindhoven is interinked with the development of the interactive Make Me Move play floor, designed to encourage young people to be more active,

‘The conclusion of this research is thatthe implementation of 2 multilevel design model can help

to describe, and potentally structure the design process apd the role of designers, n such a way that the mutual ralationship between new products and the socio-technical and societal context nt

‘which these products function is taken into accaune in 2 systematic manner However, while applying a straight-forward design approach is already complicated when developing regular products (as al industrial designer will confirm), it should be kept in mind that it doesn't come Pear the complexity of niating changes atthe level of socio-technical or rocetleystems,

In order to more closely define the boundaries of the working ares, we will briefly examine the Ihstory of the field of expartze and the anccpated developments in the near future Ae 2 matter

of fact, the frst expert to be considered a5 an industrial designer was origmlly an architect

‘Whether it was the Englishman Christopher Dresser (1834-1908) or the German Peter Behrens (1868-1940) i subject of clecusion, where most authors agree thatthe latter i more deserving

of the vile, parveulsly due to his close relationship with the industrial concern Allgemeine Ellerzities-Gesselschatt — AEG (Denison, 2005) Especially his designs of tea kets clocks, lamps and fans are generaly associated with the field of expertise of industrial design, Since chat

‘ime, uF kein 20 many other fields of expertize, more and more specnlzabon and demarcation has been crested, 1 process that leds to a multitude of specialties that are all simpy referred to With the term design: fashion design, graphic design invzrior design, intligent product design, game design interactive design system design, exhibition desig, sofware design, web design fexperience design, sound desi, color design urban design, landscape dengn ta mention just 3 few of them

This study is focused on industrial design, 2 spacily which tslf has changed since branching off from architecture In a retrospective on the 40th anniversary ofthe Faculty of Indutral Design at the Technical Unversity in Delf, Dean Coos de Bont indiates that inthe inital years of the study, 90% of all students graduated on a physical subject agninst only 30% in 2009 The remainder graduated on concepts ideas plane and strategies (Visscher, 2009, pl) While early designers were especly focused on the development of physical products, nowadays the femphasie i apparanely more on “solving probleme" This can be accomplished through a new produce bue there are many other ways Where eary industrial designers according to De Bont,

‘primarily designed objects that go ‘poof when you drop them”, students pow also learn that an object fe not always the bert solution fora problem (Vicher, 2009, pl), Various other authors

‘Newt lproe~ The Mal fence betwen New Prods and Sct! Change Process confirm that design i lees and less about providing physical products and more and more about Gelvering “experiences” (Pine and Gilmore, 1993} shifting attention from “ownership to access (Pin, 2000, 85) and creating the need for “solutions” instead of arufets (Manzi et al, 2004), lncidentlly, the development of these artifacts is elf highly subject to change especialy as 2 consequence of applying more and more information and communication technology The eet it that products are functioning lees and less 2¢ “standalone” Mark Weirer, head of the Computer Seience Laboratory at Xerox PARC, predicts ths development when he emphasizes chat the computer in the 21* century wll continue to “dssppear” and will become part af other products,

‘which in turn are par of incrensingly complex technologtal and social networks: "The real power fof the concept comes not fram any one ofthese devices: it emerges fram the interaction ofall of ther” (Weiser, 1991}

Ín that framework there is frequent talk of a “third industrial revolution” that is drastically changing the way society functions In an analysis of the consequences of this development, Stefano Marzano, CEO of Pips Design argues that the consequence ofall these developments is that the assumptions about the usefulness and necessity of new products are constantly being abated It may even be necessary for us to redefine our assumptions in the area of ethics, authenticity responsibilty and sustainability That means that “new disciplines will need to work together to redefine their azaumptions about our most fundamental needs What i required te 8 commitment on behalf of ll to continue to question what kind of world we want to lve in and how we want to lve and communicate within i, and then to address those questions as 2 group! (Aars and Marzano, 2003, 11) For that matter crossing the once-defined boundaries between fields of expertise is something that i inextricably linked with the innovation process Economist Joreph Schumpeter (1911) already describes the core of innoration as the creation of "Neve Kombinsdonen" where diferent knowledge arese are combined in a unique way Mare recently, Lurban studies theorist Richard Flrids emphasizes the increasingly narrow collaboration between the various fields of expertise when he streses that “the rise ofthe Creative Economy is drawing the spheres of innovation (technologea crestvgy), business (economic creativity) and culture (arustic and cultural ereaty) into one another, in more inumate and more powerful combinations than ever” (Fora, 2002 20)

“The consequence of thi is thatthe societal impact of al ofthese renewals continues to increase [Afar all 2 new product does not only influence its direct ervironment it also influences all other Indvaduas chat fis n contact with through the network hati is pare of The world i becoming Increasingly "Iaf(fedman 1005] and increasingly “connected” (Prahalad and Krishran, 2008),

‘The result is that we are increasingy dependent on these highly sophisticated and complex systems "Fortunately, most of the systems function mast of the time very well But at the

‘roment something goes realy wrong, the consequences can be huge” (Brombacher, 2007) Ande

Is 2 well-known fet thatthe functioning of now products does not always go wall For designers, the challenge that they are facing fe the fact that amall actions ean have big effecte ~ often unexpectedly ~ "and designers only recently have been to, with the rest of Us how inredibiy sonstive we need to be to the possible consequences of any design step we take” (Thackara,

3006 7)

1.1.2 A shife cowards sustainability

Much of the research that has been conducted around tis theme stems from the perspective of ecologies! sustainably, resulting in 2 new design area that wo wil call "sustamable product evelopment’ This feld of exparuse can actully be considered ss the “core area” of the researeh, Thi fleld of experuse Is closely related to that of industrial design engineering, albeit that itis explicitly focused on reaching surtaablity objectives In this framework, the book

“Design for the Real World” (Papanck 1985) can be considered a milestone, urging dasigners to net only focus on the withes of the mirket economy but also to accept their societal responsibilty Inspired by this idea industrial designers inthe 1980s and 90s are more and more fected on the tapi of sustainably ntl i involves only afew individuals for example inthe

hope | Inout form af a thesis about the application of energy analyses during the design process (Kermna 198), bạt thị field of expertise: gains momentum after the publication of "Our Common Future’ (Grundeiand, 1987),

Inspired by this United Nations report, various research groups are being established in the area

of sustainable desgn For example, the Design for Sustainability research group is heading off in Dal, The Netherlands in 1992, headed by Han Brezet, the lta Polcecico Mian establishes the lnterdepartmentl research center INDACO in 1985, headed by Ezio Manzi, in Britain the (Centre for Sustainable Design is established in that same year, headed by Martin Charter and 3 the Australian Royal Malbourne Institute of Technology Chris Ryan is working on the subject of Design and Sutaiabity from 1990 onwards Research Insitutions such as the Dutch TNO also begin to occupy themselves with the subject for example inthe Ecodesgn program (te Pile and Zweers, 1994), The acquired experience is recorded in the PROMISE Manual (Brezet 1994),

‘which vas adapted and published by the United Nations Environment Program in 1997 (Brezet tnd van Hemel, 1997) and in revised form in 2009 (Cru etal, 2008) The colaboration between TNO and TU Delft resuts in the founding of the Kathays Center for Sustainable Product Innovation in 1997, with the mission to “intiate and introduce leap-rog sustainable product innovation witha factor 4 ambition level, anda time perspective of 3 to 10 years’ (Brezot and van der Horst, 1999, 4) (Brezet et al, 200Ic), Parallel co ths development the European Union supports a-number of research programs around the theme of productservce combinations, such as MEPPS (Halen et al, 2005), Homeservies (Halme etal 2004) HICS (Manzi eta 2004), (Jegou and Joere 2004), Êroseceo and Innepse The theme is explored further within the thematic network Suspronet (Tulker and Tischner 2008) and, emanating from this in the SCORE! project (Tubkor eta, 2008} (Geerken and Berup, 2009) (Tischner etal 2010) (Lahlou, 2010)

(Over time, a shift of focus has occurred here where attention it increasingly moving from the optimization of products to the fundamental change of complex systoms (Weterings ota 1997, 18) (Brezet etal 2001a, I) Here the underiying objective is to achieve a “factor 4” or ctor 0” reduetion (von Weizsicker et al, 1998) with regard to the ecologieal impact of these products and systems, The result if that "moving from an intaly narrow focur on the artifact felt the file hae expanded so cover the whole technical fe cycle and the institutions infrastructure in which the arate are produced and employed” (Ehrenfeld, 2001) The fact that this systam approach is stil alive in 2010 is evident from the report "Vision 2050", in which the World Business Counell for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) presents a vision of a world

“well on the way to sustainality by 2050" Their fidings suggest that there is no simple, single path to reach this goal, but rather “the need to design bul and transform complex systems” that Wil in turn "provide the foundation for survival and human development throughout che 2l: century and beyond” (WBCSD, 2010, 64),

1.13 An amblelous definition of industrial design

‘The connection between this need to design build and transform complex systems (WBCSD,

2010, €4) ~ where the underlying objective is the creation ofa surtsinable society and the work, ofthe indurtnal desgner is beng emphasized by the defrition of industrial design, az formulated

by the International Counc of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID}:

‘Aim: Design is @ ereatve acid whose oim is 10 establsh the multifaceted quelties of objects, Drocesses,serices ond ther systems in whole Ife cycles Therefore deugn i the central factor of Innovative humanzaten of technologies and the crucial factor ofeutural and economic exchange

Task: Design seks wo dscove and esses structural ergonzaindl,functionl expressive and economic relaenshs withthe tok of

‘Newt lproe~ The Mal fence betwen New Prods and Sct! Change Process

Enhoncing soba urtoinabity ond environmental protection (lol ethics)

= Ging benefs and freedom tote ene human communi, indvdual and collective

Fina wes, producers and market protons (oc ethics)

‘Supporting cultural dversty despite the globalization ofthe weld (cuturl ethics)

Giving products, series and systems, those forms that are expressive of semielogy) and coherent with (eesthets) ther proper complexty

Design concerns products services and systems conceived wth tol, orgenizations and loge inteduced

by ndustraaaton- not ut when produced by srl processes The adjectie “indutna” ut to devin

‘must be related 0 the term indus or in ts meaning of sector of product orm ks ancient meaning of 'indusrous actity’ Thus, design is an actny ivolang a wide specoum of professions in which products serces graphics interars and archtecture ll take part Together, these aces should further enhance =i choral woy with other related profession the volue of fe

Therefore, the tem designer refers to an indvidul who practices an inclectual profession, and not simply a trade ora servic for enterprises ICSI, 2010)

“The definition mentions the development of “objects, processes, services and their systems in

‘whole fe cycles" This emphasize that industrial design is not ony focured the development of

ew products, Le physical objects and arcfacts, but encompasses a much broader working area Emphasis is also placed on the role of design forthe "innovative humanization of technologies” Design “transates’, as it were, impersoral technology to more personal applications Besides the ctl product development the ICSID emphasizes the tack of design asthe realaation of labal Sustainability and environmental protection” the establishment of "benefts and freedom to the {entire human community” and the support of "cultural diversity’, which can be summarized 35 the pursuit of global ethics, social ether and cultural ethics Last of allt streeer that a "wide Epectrum of professions” is involved in the design process, These must collaborate intensively in fonder to “further enhance the value of if” Ar a matter of fact it ean be noted that the

‘lationship with busine is ony mentioned in the very lat line of the ICSID definition and even then primary to pace It ina broader perspective,

“The broad focus of this definition is not eel-evdent This can be seen when we compare the above defniuen ta ICSIDS first defintion of industrial design, which was ofcally adopted a¢ thelr first congress and General Assembly in Stockholm, Sweden in September 1959

‘An industrial designer is one who é quoifid by taining tchncel knowledge, experience and vival senelihg to determine the materiel mechanisms, shop, clour, surface finches ond decoration of| objects which ae repreduced in quantty by industrial processes The industrial designer may, o ferent times, be concerned wth al or enly some ofthese aspects of an indusily produced object

‘The industrial designer may alto be concemed withthe problems of packaging adversing exhibng and

‘marketing when the resolution of such problems requres wzual appreciation in oddton to technical knowledge and experience

The designer for craft based industries or wodes, where hand proceses are used for productions deerme tobe an industrial designer when the works which are produced to hs drawings or meds ore of

‘commercial nature, are made in batches or oterwie n quantity, and are not personal works of the carat erfiman "(ICSID, 1989)

‘When comparing both defniions its clear thatthe working are of the industrial dasignar has been considerably widened during the last 50 years Where the 1959 definition puts great

hope | Inout emphasis on the “materials, mechanisms shape, colour surface fishes and decoration of

‘object, the new definion take aboue "the multi-faceted qualities of objects processes, services tnd ther systems in whole life cycles", and while the 1959 definition emphasizes the production of these products in industrial processes, the new defistion explicitly mentions that tis nat only about products that are produced by serial processes, and it maintains a much broader Perspective on the role and task of design, emphasizing ie responsibilty with regard to tr

£ontrbuten se sustainability na glebslzing werlé

Allin all there appear to be three developments that enhance each other, a5 will be further discussed in chapear 3: First a broadening of the working area of designers, where i's no langer only about the development of new products, but about the development of processes services and complex interconnected aystems, Second, an orginaztonal development where actors are increasingly collaborating across the boundaries of various feds of expert and cecpines This isnot only about collaboration between compaties, but particularly alto about collaboration between government, societal organizations and knowledge insstaions Third, the responsiblity

to strive for sustsiabilty, for global, socal and cultural ethics for ways to “further enhance the Value of fe" Located in the middle ofall these developments, atleast when viewed from the perspective of the study i the designer, the design process and the new product That new Product must therefore not only be "new and improved’, but mut also become "new to Improve" the wider context in which functions (hen the title of ths stud),

to the Base Design Cyele (Roczenburg and Eekels, 1991), the Delft Innovation Model (Buje and Valkenburg, 2005), the Vision in Product design (VIP) method (Hekkert and van Di 2000) and the theory ofthe Evolutionary Product Development (Eger 2007) Here it becomes clear thatthe Iain focus is stil the development of one, more or less solitary product or service, Although these artifacts are by themselves smal-seale systems, most models emphasize the development of the composite whole and pay las atenton on the manner in which this whole is assembled 2s 2 system, let alone what position the product takes within the larger system context tha it part

Of, Having ead that, experts focusing on the development of Imelgent Products (Aarts and Marzano, 2003) (Andrews, 2003) (Fejs and Kyfn, 2005) do put the design of products somewhat

‘more deliberately in the wider system context that i is part of, However, the main approach that

is taken here is that froma user perspective sn the seceDl suas mentioned inthe definition of the ICSID don't seem to appear 3 deliberate target to be achieved by this area of design either 1.2.2 Sustainable Product Development

Stemming from the area of industrial design, the core area of research that is important for this study isthe feld of expertie we will ell “sustainable product development’ Ae mentioned before the focus of derigners that occupy themeelves with sustaimbily has been shifting for

‘Newt lproe~ The Mal fence betwen New Prods and Sct! Change Process

‘more than a decade towards the larger context thot these product are part of (Weterings et al 1997) (von Welzsicker et al, 1998) (Brezet etal, 2001a) (Ehrenfeld, 2001) Having sid that in the analysis resulting from the SCORE! research network supported by the EU's 6 Framework Program the postion of designers is sll being described as rather action oriented and perhaps even simple-minded

‘At the rik of creetng carcotures, the postions of practioner in these fields tend to be characterized a: flows Designers, who are action-oriented, simply stor with oll the rect creativity

to wark on new sustainable slutons, only to be caught by the unpleasant surprise that the word for some reazon doesnot implement many of he beauful dees (Tukker eto, 2008, 10)

‘Ahough tis desription may indeed be considered as 3 kind of eaiature Ít ray contain some truth, Although much rerearch has been conducted in the area of surtaimble product development, the actual resuits that are being achieved remain relatively modest In fact the approach now favored seems to be more of a bottom up approach, searching for grassroots Initiatives of people inventing sustanable ways of living, and finding ways how designers can strengthen of multiply these bottom up intatives (Peron, 2007)Jagou and Mangin, 2008),

‘Although this may be avery promising approach, the question is ifs posable to really combine

‘the development of “small products" with the design ofthe “bigger system’ a the same time,

‘One ofthe more ambiious intatives to develop “leapfrog” sustainable soltions within a braader system context isthe Mita project (Joore 2000) Joore, 2001) (Luten et al, 20012) (Brown et

al 2003), This research project was conducted within the framework of the earlier mentioned Kathalys cooperation of TNO and Delt Unwersity of Technology, and was convucted In collaboration with among others leading Dutch bicyele producer Gzzalla, the European headquarters of Nike and design studio Van der Veer Designers In the project an efore was rade to develop of a completely new mobility system, inluding an electric powered tneycle, accompanying services and corresponding infrastructure The project was aalyzed by Berchica Wwho advises that ie mould have been better to use 2 "bricolage approach” long aml sep Instead of aiming at a “breakthrough” appreach in which a complete new system is designed in fone big move His conclusion is that much more insight is needed in order to really understand how design intistves such a the Miia project can really be success

“The system inovation paradigm often locks clear boundaries in both the ambien andthe context If

ve want to crete 0 new sustamable mobity este, to what extent do we need to change «? What are the boundaries for the creative destruction process? Inthe Mika case the PSS concept of @ new vehile with dedoted senicet soon became a system see The services encompase ot ony rointenance sree but cho new infesuctures (uch as high speed bike highway lec vechorgers

in several laces inthe ity, spel shed et) ( ) How to balance shorterm goel withthe lengterm

‘ones? stringent and cleo defintion of the Boundones of the system i= needed” (Berchco, 2005, 208) (Breet 2009, 197}

“The question seems to be if it isa all possible to actualy design a larger socio-technical system in

‘a simlar way that new product are being designed For this purpore night is needed in the way that the design process andthe role of designers can be described, and potentially be organized nt such 3 way that the relationship Between new products and the bigger eystem in which these products function, can be taken into account in a systematic manner In order to gain this insight tmay be useful to tap into some new fds of expertise

1.2.3 Sustainable System Innovation

When analying the Mika project (Brown et al, 2003) consider it asa "bounded socio-technical experiment’, where a socio-technical system can be defined as "a cluster of aligned elements Including artifacts, technology knowledge, user practices and markets, regulation cultural

‘meaning, infrastructure, maintenance networks and supply networks, that together fll specfc

hope | Inout societal function.” (Gees, 2005) The fd of expertise that occupies itself withthe way that large scale societal developments tke place will be called “sustainable system innovation” Within this field of experise, a desig related approach isthe Participatory Backcastng method (Quist, 2007), also referred so as "BadewardeLooling Arayss” (Loving, 1976), or Energy Backeastng (Robinson 1982), Variants ofthis approach are developed by The Natural Step (Holmberg, 1998), (Nateras and Altomare, 1999), the Dutch program for Sustainable Technology Development (DTO) (Weaver etal 2000, Aares, 2000) and the European Sushouse projec (Vergragc 3000)

‘These methods are tying to influence developments at 9 socio-techncl systems level, changes which are often referred to a8 a “transition” Such a transition ean be defined as “a gradual Contindous process of rocietal change, where the character of society (or of one ofits complex subsystems) undergoes structural change (Rotmans et al 2000, I!) This is where changes take place in technical, infrastructural, societal, insteucenal, socio-cultural as well as economic areas, all Closely related to each other (Rotmans etal 2001) (Elen et al 2004) (Loorbach, 2007) The field of expertise of “transition management” ties to guide these changes in a desired, sustainable đeeuen The bulding blocks to accomplish ths inelude tall sale experiments, conducted Within a defined niche ervronment also referred to 2s “transition experimants” (Kemp and van dien Bosch, 2006), "societal innovation experimante” (van Sandi and Werennge, 2008), or the previously mentioned "bounded tocio-technical experiments” (Vergragt and Brown, 2004) eis related to the investigation around “strategic riche management” (Sehot et al 1997), where innovations come about within defined niches, o allow thers to grow into maturity, at waren

4 closed environment Within thi eld of expertise the “learning” aspect plays an important role (Argyns, 1976) (Hall, 1993), a5 with these itativer iz not only a mater of achieving concrete resus, At leet as important isthe lerring process thatthe partes involved may experience,

‘When the attitude towards a certain situation has sufilendy been sdjusted, the expectation is that actors wil automaticaly adjust their actions to the newly acquired insights (Grin and (Grunwald, 2000) (Vergragt and Brown, 2004),

Although thie fld of expertize is rather far removed from the area of industrial design, the

‘expectation is that valuable sights can be learned here, which could possibly be combined with the more hands on approach of industrial designers benefiting both areas of expertise Where previously the postion of designers was described as parhaps a bit naive and too much action brent, che same report gives a scription of system innovation experts as being very good in Amlyzin an learang, but net that wel in ating

Finally, system innovation speclsts preach the need to perform onayses of complex systems soning exercises, and leamng by doing’ and ‘dong by leering’ expenments to understand how change shoul be fetered (Elzan etal 2005)—an approach that would prebably make the average sustainable designer of nongovernmental organizovon (NGO) rather impatient an, indeed could pronde a preter o porpone vtuallyselievdent choce: net oe cơn vay learn more” (Tukker fal, 2008 p11),

While realizing that this description may resemble, like the one related to designers, somewhat of

2 caneature chare probably is some ruth init ae wal, Combining both perspaccives may perhaps turn out to create a ferule combination of knowledge combining the more practeal approach of designers withthe more abstract and arlytical insights of system innovation experts

Systems Engineering

A field of expertie that is exsentl to take into account when considering the development of complex systems i the field of expertise of "systems engineering” Ths specalty orgated inthe 1940s within Bll Telephone Laboratories (Schlager 1956) and was further developed by Arthur

D Hl (1962) Although complex systems have been daveloped for centuries (eg the Egyptian pyramids, or Roman aqueduets), the field of expertise was not recognaable as a separate ddsoplne before World War I, The increasing complexity of industrialized systems leads to a formalization of the field of expertise in the mid-1900s, stimulated by space travel, military

‘Newt lproe~ The Mal fence betwen New Prods and Sct! Change Process developments and software developments According to the International Council on Systems Engineering system ie "an interacting combination of elements to accomplish defined objective

‘These include hardware software, fmware, people, information techniques, facies, services, and other support elements (INCOSE, 000, 10) Systems engineering is the interiscipinary Feld fof expertise that faiitates the creation of success systems according to 3 lial, systematic and Iterative process, Thi results in a system architecture where elements and subsystems are arranged Sn are assigned 2 function, inorder forthe system to satey stated demands Some of the models that are being studied include the "Waterfall model” (Reye, 1970), the Spr Model (Bochm 1988) and the Vimodel (KBST, 2004, Cadle and Yeates, 2008 73) Als included is 3 Gicussion of the Work Breakdown Structure approsch (Haugan 2001) a¢ a component of systems engineering

With this field of expertise, the emphasis is explicitly on the technical sytem aspect and the

‘manner in which a complex system and the components of the aystem are developed relative to

‘cach other, Although there feem to be no clear link to the societal issues mentioned before, the

‘reason to look into this domain is that i isa rather practical, design oriented fd of experese

“The expectation is that che systema approach that is being used to develop ths kind of complex

‘echnical systems can be a valuable contribution to the sometimes more intutive working syle Lsed in the fd of expertise of design Als it appears tac the systematic manner in which the big system is syteratlly boing divided and structured with regard tothe elements that are part of this system may provide a valuable insight that can be used in this research

1.2.5 Overview of the flelds of expertise

‘Concluding we arrive at four diferent areas of expertise that wil be taken into account in this

‘research, Beng (I) Industral Design Engineering (2) Systems Engineering (3) Sustainable Product Development and (4) Sustainable System Innovation When positioning thete areas in relation & fone another (soe Table I-!), the fist cwo areas have a more or lass “neutral” approach, the other two have an explicitly normative or austanabilty focus, Another ditincton is related to the degree thatthe emphasis ison the development ofa single product or service (group | and 3) or fon the development of composie systems (groupe 2 and 4) le should be nated tht in reality, no

"rit separation cin be defined between the various fields of experuse, but instead, methods and

‘models may converge and overlap in various areas

‘When asking the question is if any of these existing design and innovation models provide the insight regarding the way thatthe design process and the role of designers can be described in uch a way that the relsvonship between new products and the zodo-techmicl or societal system

In which these products function, ean be taken into account in a systematic manner (as will be one in chapters 3 and 4), it appears that 2 number of models may be too focused on the {evelopment of a single concrete product or system, and therefore deal insdfcenly wih the

‘ecio-technicl or societal aspect Other models may handle an abstraction level which is too high

50 the aspect of concrete product development is not sưfiendy dealt with It will however become apparent that existing design and innovation medals offer valuable point of departure for further development particularly with regard to the question how the design process can be escribed in such 2 way that the mutual relationship between new products and the societal

‘context in which these products function can be tken into account in a ystemate manner Tobie I-1 Focus ofthe four fel of expertise

Development of sngle products Development of composite system

Neutral focus ) Fnustral Design Engineering 2) Systeme Engineering

Focus on 3) Sustainable Product 4) Sustainable System Innovation sustainability Development

hope | Inout 1.3 Research question

In the previous paragraphs the ambition of designers to have a postive impact on socity as whole has bean discussed, among others exemplified by the defintion of industrial design ofthe ICSID, stating the desig should contribute to, brely summarized, global surtainablity The question that

Is rolevane hare is what exact) is che relationship between the ambitious, long-tarm societal

‘objectives that the ICSID spenke of and the more operaoomal focus ofthe "narma” indutral designer who is occupied with the development of one new produet for one company that hay to

be avaiable in stores within a couple of months To mention both aspocts together in one definition is ane ting, but pucting things into practice is another li indasd possible to organae the design process in such a way thatthe resdling products have a positive influence on society?

In face what exactly is the relationship between those new products and the socio-technical or societal context in which these products function?

le appeared that effors to achieve global sustainability by means of design, among others stemmng from the fd of experuse of sustainable product development, appeared to have a limited rate of success Looking to, among others, the experiences inthe Mita project it appears that more insight is neaded inthe way thatthe design process and the role of designers can be described, and potentially be organized, in such a way that the relationship between new products and the bigger system in which these products function ean be taken into account ina systematic

‘manner In order to grin this insight, some rated feds of expertise may provide valuable cues

nh regard to ways how to achieve ths insight For ths purpose we have loaked brely into the trea of sustainable tystem innovation and the area of systems engineering However the frst fd

of expertise turns out to be rather analytical and detached from practi activ while the Second is rather practical indeed, but lacks the societal perspective we ae looking for Therefore che following research question has been define

Research question; “How can the design process and the role of designers be described (and potentially be structured) in such a way that the mutual relationship between new products and the socio-technical or societal context in which these products function is taken into aecountin a systematie manner?

Subquestion I: Product and soclety (“what”)

‘The research question can be divided in several subquestion First the research question speaks about the relationship between new products and the socetal context in whch these products function This sue is related to the increasing complexity ofthe wider context that new products are part of, where i is pot only about the functioning of physical arifats, but about the combined functioning of product, proceses, services in complex, incerconnected socio-technical ar societal systems, To shed more light on tie esue the frst subquestion is defined as:

Subquestion |: What is the reltionthip between (new) products and the socio-technical or societal system that they are a part of, and how can thie relationship be desenbed in a systomatie manner?

1.3.2 Subquestion 2: Problems and objectives (“why”)

“The research question speaks about the functioning of products within a certain socio-technical or societal context The question here is how the fetionality of cern product relates to the functionality of the larger context that fei part of One could say that the functionality of product is determined by the problem that i being solved or by the objective thae i being

‘Newt lproe~ The Mal fence betwen New Prods and Sct! Change Process achieved by meane of ite spacfe properties The same could be sid about the functionality of 2 certain socio-technical system as it fllls a specife societal function (Geels, 2008) In other words carain societal problems are being solved, or societal objectives ae baing achieved, by the functioning of tha socio-technical system Now the question ean be asked how the problems and

‘objectives atthe product level relate tothe problems and objectives that are being considered at

4 societal level This leads to the second subquestion:

Subquestion 2: What isthe relationship between the problems and objecuves that are being met by means of the functioning of a product, compared to the societal problems and

‘objectives which are being met by means of the functioning of 2 saco-tachnical syztem, and how ean ths relaonshp be described in systematie manner?

1.3.3 Subquestion 3: Design process (“how")

‘The research question speaks about the way that the design process can be described and potently be structured, The implicit expectation, ar hope is the possibilty to orginze the {esign process in such a way that new products actualy can make 3 posive contribution to ocity, To understand f hiss possible 3t al its necessary to Understand the way in which the product design process occurs, especially with relation tothe way that socio-technical ar societal change processos take place, Then the question is f and how the produet design process can be fractured m such a way that the socio-technical and societal change processes are consciously being incorporated during ths process This lends tothe third subquestion

Subquestion 3: What ae the simlariues and differences between the product design process and the way that socio-technical and societal change procestes take place, and how ean these processes be interlinked in a systematic manner?

34 Subquestion 4: Designer and actors (“who”)

“The research question speaks about the role of the designer during the design process, Here the fist question is what exactly the role ofthe designer i, and how ths role is actualy changing with regard to the other actors involved, a8 a result of the developments surrounding the product esign process The next question is what role, if any, the designer can play when relating the product design process to the way that socio-technical and societal change prcertes take place

‘Tis leads tothe fourth subquestion

Subquestion 4: How can the (potential) role of the designer with regard to the product design process, as wall as with regard to the way that soce-technial and societal change processes tke place, be described ina systematic manner?

hope | Inout outline of the inital “problem situation 1" has been sketched in paragraph Ì.l and wil be discussed in more detail in chapter 3 and 4 In phase 2, the development ofthe “tentative theory” takes the form of a new multilevel design model and corresponding propositions which wall be discussed in detain chapter 8 Phase 3 [explained in section 24) isthe ential examination ofthe new theory, in a procett of “error elimination”, Ths phe is not really about fisfabiiy, but about terung the internal consistency of the new theory by means of an acton-rsearch approach

in which two multryear practical design and innovation projecte willbe executed The frst

‘periment is desenibed in chapter 6 under the tle "Autonomous Elderly It focuses on the sodepl question of aging and dovetails with the development of new asited living center inthe Dutch ety of Apeldoorn, At the product level the project ft closely with the development of 3 personal loealzation system, the Guide Me system, The second experiment, deseribed in chapter 7's entitled "Youth in Motion” It deals with the societal question surrounding young people wth obesity 25a consequence of 2 lack of mavement Particular attention will be paid to.2 number of Projects in the aren of sports station in the Dutch ety of Eindhoven At the product level the Project ta close ft with the development ofan interactive, luminous gaming floor, the Make Me Move system, Based on the rests of the two experiments an analysi wil be made in chapter 8

to determin the extent to which the new multlevel design models indeed enpable of desenibing the desig process and the role of designers in such way that the matal relationship between

ew producte and the saco-technical or societal cantext in which these praducts function is

‘akon Into account ina systematic manner, Ths wil lead toa reflection on “problem sation 2" Which is presented in chapter 9, including a discussion of the consequences of this research for Various actors and recommendations for posdble supplementary studies The exact research Appeonch is explained in chapter 2

15 Structure of the thesis

‘This thesis consists of nine chapters Chapter I (Introduction) describes the background of the study introduces the research question and presents a broad outline of the approach to finding the answer to this question It contains the structure of the thesis and defines the limits of the study a5 well asa number of concepts Chapter 2 (Research Approach) includes a discussion of the rerearch approach indicating the philosophical thought framework that forme the bast for conducting tis study, A conceptual model ie intraduced and four research issuer are being Introduced (product and society, problems and objectives, design process, designer and actors) chapter 3 (Produets and Socety) the four ressarch ites are being dicussed, looking from 3

‘mare broad and philosophical perspective Chapter 4 (Inventory of Design and Innovation Models) ineludes an inventory of various innovation models This wil include an examination of how the four research issues are viewed with four fields of expertise (industrial dergn engineering sustinable product development, systems engineering and sustainable system innovation) In chapter 5 (A Multlevel Design Model) a new multilevel dexign model is desribed, based on the analysis in chapter 3 and 4, and corresponding propositions are formulated on the base of this model this chapter i alo the eelaction proces ofthe two practical experiments i beng explained Chapter 6 (Autonomous Eldery) includes a description of the frst practeal

‘experiment The second practial experiment is discussed in chapter 7 (Youth in Motion), The propositions are tested in chaptar 8 (Analysis of Experiments) on the basis of the outcomes of

he to practical experiments, without further discussion of the Broader consequences of these rezuts, Final, chapter 9 (Conclusions and Recommendations) includes a discussion of the extent

to which an anewer to the research question can now be gen Potential implications ofthe study fon the field of expertise are discussed and suggestions are made for possible supplementary

‘tudies If we align there nine chapters next tothe four phates ofthe study, we can coughly state that “problem situation I” i discussed in chapters 3 and 4 The “tentative theory” is decuzeed in chapeer 5, The process of "error eliminations discussed in chapters 6 to @ and the discussion of problem station 2° isn chapter 9, Schematiclly ths looks as Figure |-L

‘Newt Inpro ~The Mtl fence betwen New Prods ond Scetal Change Processes

Inthis section, several concepts are being defined Here it should be noted that chapter § includes

a discussion of the concepts “product-technology system’, "productservice system” “socio=

‘echnical system and “social system’ in the framework ofthe new muislevel design model lóc System

‘The concept “system” is derived from the Greek word “sjatima’, which means “a whale compounded of several parts, Italy ne may consider the discussion by Herbert Simon in "The

‘Architecture of Complenty": “Roughly, by a complex system I mean one made up of 2 large umber of pares chat ineeract in a nonsimple way in such systems, che whole is more than the sum ofthe parts not in an ultimate, metaphysical sense, but inthe important pragmatic sense that {ven the properties of the pares andthe ws of their interaction, iis nota trivial matter to infer the properties of the whole.” (Simon, 1962) For the purpose of this research, che đefvuon ae

‘sed by the International Council on Systeme Enginesring is ured, 36 if neutral enough to be Used for both technical and arganizationa system configurations

+ Sptem: An interacting combination of elements to accomplsh a defined objective These include hardware, sofware firmware, people formation techniques, foclives, services and ater suppert ements" INCOSE 2000, 10)

hope | Inout 1.6.2 Product, product-service,

wroduct-service system The word “product” was derived from the Latin "pradacefre)” which means “to create Everything that i offered in the marketplace and that satisfies certain need ean be viewed se 3 product whether you can touch it or not In this stud, "product” willbe used specifically when it

Is a matter ofthe physical aafact Simply said, whan itis about objects “that you can drop on your feet’ When discussing inangble products (eg an insurance, a maintenance contractor an Zirplane trp) the term “services” is Used When dlecursing the combination of products and services, the term productservce systems is used Here, the definition as formulated in the research project Suspronet wil be used (Tulker and Tischner, 2006, 24),

+ Product: physical abject thatanginaes frm @ human ation ero machine process

+ Product Service (5) 2 max of tangible products and intangible serice designed and combined so that thay jin are capable of filing final customer needs, This concems hence only the offer to cent Terms ke ‘mio “ombinavon might be added, but this isnot necessry

+ ProductService Sytem (PSS): The productzenice incudng the network infosvucture ond overance sructre needed t produce” preductserce

1.6.3 Soclety, societal system, socio-technical system

‘The ongin ofthe word society comes from the Latin societas, a “lend association with ethers.” Societas is derived from socius meaning “companion” Thus the meaning of society is closely related to what is soca Implicit in tha meaning of saciey ie that its members share some muta

‘oncern or interest in a common objective, As such, selet Is often used as synonymous with the collective citzenry of a country 35 directod through natioral institutions concerned with civic alae In this research, the terms society, societal system, societal context and societal situation are used ina muualy interchangeable manner,

CCarsan clusters of aligned elements in society can fill a societal function, combining social as well as technical elements, hence these clusters can be called "socio-technical systems”, With regards to the broader socetal context sometimes the concept of the “socio-technical landscape” is being used Alchough this term is closely related to the concept of society as a Whole n tis research we will not use the phrase landscape but ony refer to more widely uted Prase "secoty

+ Society | Societal seta I Societal context / Societal stuaton: The communi of people ving in @ partcuar country a region and having shared customs, laws, and arganizaten (Oxford dictionaries) + Sociotechnical system: A cluster of element, ivching technology, science, regulation user proces,

‘markets culture! meaning, infrastructure, producion ond suppl networks The elements cƒ seo technica systems ore created, meintined and refined by supply-side ators firms, eserch nse, tuniersces,polcy makers) ond demandside actrs (users, speclinterest groups, meta) (Gees and Kemp 2007, 442)

+ Sociotecnical landscape: The exogenous environment that is beyond the direct influence of actors The coment eƒ the secotechncal landscape i heterogeneous and may include aspects such as economic growth, brood poltical coolers, cultural and norma yolues, environmental problems and resource caries (Geels and Kemp, 2007, 443)

1.6.4 Design, Innovation, product design, product innovation

With regard to the defnition of “design, we wil refer to the earlier mentioned definition of ICSID, deserbing ie asa creative acuity whose sim ls to establish the multhfaceted qualities of

‘Newt lproe~ The Mal fence betwen New Prods and Sct! Change Process cbjects processes, services and their systams in whole life cycles (ICSID, 2010) A defrition of product derign can be derwed from ths, The concept of "designs closely related eo the concept fof innovation’, although both notions refer to their ovn conceptual frameworks It appears that {esign is more about the conception and creation of new entities and innovation is more about the commercial of industra implementation of ths new (Schumpeter, 1934) Where design is closely related to invention, innovation is aimed at "bringing invention into use” (Sehén, 1967)

“Ths study is aimed at a combination of design and innovation with an emphasis on the design perspective With regard to the degree of originality to be achieved, inthis study no ditinetion it

‘made between increments radical or fundamental innovation (Booz Allen & Hamiton Inc, 1982) (Olson era 1995)

1+ Design: See definition of ICID in eecton 1.1.2

+ Product Desig: The creative activity whose aim & to estab the mubifacted quate of new physical object,

= _ ovation: The commercial or industrial implementation of something new ~ a new product or production process new market or new forms of commerce, business er finencil organization (Sehumbste, 1934)

+ Product Innovation: The introducion of a new product the is one with which consumers are not yet familar =e af new qualy of product (based on Schumpeter, 1934)

5 Design process, design process model, design model

“The American Heritage Dictionary defines design 2 "To conceive or fashion inthe mind: invent" and "To formulate a plan This definition puts the emphasis on the process that is fllowed to create a new product process or service, consisting of a series of activities and mathods which

re pulled together ín 2 way which meets the requirements of a problem or project When

‘modeling ths design process, we cin come up with a "design process model’ A model is "3 theary-based set of deseriptons about the abject world” In ts definton, modeling ie a process

In which observed facts are filtered by a theory to formulate a world which itself is complete in terms of the thoory (Temiyama etal, 1989) With regard to “design models”, two groups can be Gistinguishad: Firs the “design arutnct models", modeling the way that a physical aruface can be described for instance by means of a Computer Aided Design model Second, the “design process mmedkle" Such 2 design pracers model should explain how the design procers unfolds why i seceedt in some eates and why it fl in others A model should also be able to predict fate successes and failures and provide some estimate of the resources noeded to develop good signe (Ullman et al, 1988), In thie research, we wil not đøcuss design arafact models The phrase "design mode” willbe used when referring to "design process models"

+ Design process "The speci seves of event, actions or methods by which o procedure or set of procedures ore followed inorder to achieve an intended purpose, gol or outcome” ext 2006, 208) + Design model! Design process model A systematic descrbtion ofthe design proces, desenbng what ccwaly hoppens dunng ths proces, preserbing how the process con be performed and explaining about the ravenale ofthe proces th research)

{6 System innovation, transition, societal change process

‘Although each change to "a system can be viewed 383 "syatem Innovation” the concept i often

‘ewed 26 "a large seale transformation in the way societal inctone are fulfilled A change from fone socio-technical system to another” (Elzan et al, 2004, 19) However, 35 his research is not

‘only about large scale transformations, but also about more modert changes that may occur

‘within socio-technical systems, we will ure the mare descriptive term “socio-technical change process

hope | Inout

‘The term “rocital change process” will be ured for changes that tke place on the lvel of society asa whole This concept closely resembles the often used concept of "wransiions" However dhs research is not only about structural, large scale societal change but also about more modest, tivall scale changes that may accur And while the term "transitions" is used often inthe Feld of

‘expertise of sustainable system innovations, I the area of deign the phrase is harely known, That

ie why the more descriptive term "societal change procert” willbe used

+ System Innovation: A ore scale transformation inthe way sail functions are failed A change ffem ane sociotechncl system to anther (lzen et ol, 2004, 19)

+ Sociotecnical change process: A ema scale or lorge sco) transformation in the way societal [tien ae fufiled A change fram one socotechnzal system to anater (hs research)

‘+ Transton: A groduolconinuous proces of ecleta change, where the choocter of society or of one oft complex subsystems) undergoes structural chonge(Retmon etl, 2000, 11)

+ Societal change process: A gradual continuous process of scietl chong where the character of city (or of ne of its complex subsystems) undergoes acertzn lvl of chong (this thes)

1.6.7 Sustainable, eco-efficlent

‘The term eco-effcient willbe used to discuss the aim of easing minimum negative environmental impact while having maximum economic added value, The term sustainable will be ured to dicuse the aim of causing minimum negative environmental impact whila maximizing socal well-being and maximizing economic added value,

+ coefficient: Causing minimum negative snvienmental impact while having maximum economic added value (Tutker end Tschne, 2008, 24)

+ Sustenable:Cousng minimum negate envronmentel and sca impact while mavimizing socal wel beng and moxmizing ecnomie added vue (Tukker ond Tchner 2008, 24),

‘+ Susteinoble innovation: The renewal or improvement of products serves, technological or organizational processes tht not only delver an improved economic perfarmance but alo an tshanced emionmental and eecil perfomance, both in hort and long term (Br rouwers, 2010)

1.7 Summary

Chapter | includes an inital definition of the research area starting with an overview of changes fccuring in the feld of expertve of industrial design, a specalty which tell has changed substantially since branching off from architecture atthe end of the 19% cancury, Where several decades ago, industrial design was totally focused on the development of physical products, recently the working area has broadened considerably in the direction of ideas, plans, sưateges, fervces and the development of "solutions" instead of arafacts, Incdentaly, the development of these arufcte i ef also subject to change, expecialy 28 a consequence of applying more and

‘more information and communication technology, which resuls in integrated systems the are functioning lest and less “standalone The consequence ofthis thatthe societal impact of al of these renewals continues to Increase, Afterall anew product dose not ony influence ite direct fenvironment i also influences al other elements that i isn contact with, through the neworke that itis par of This pores the question how we should del with ths potentially major mpact of

ew products on the bigger socio-technical and societal system in which these products operate,

"Much ofthe rerearch that has been conducted around this theme stems from the perspective of ecologies! sustainability, resuling in a new design area that we wil call “suscinable product development’ In ths Seid of expertise a she of focus has occurred where attention is inereasingy moving from the optimization of products to che fundamental change of complex

‘Newt lproe~ The Mal fence betwen New Prods and Sct! Change Process ystems, Moving from an iitlly narrow focus on the araict itself the fld has expanded to cover the whole tachnveal Ife cycle and the institutional ifastructure in which products are produced and employed This can for instance be recognized in the sttement of the World Business Counel for Sustainable Development (WBCSD, 2010} who emphasizes that it Is recetsary fo design, buld and transform complex systems that will provide the foundation for sural and human development chroughout the 2Ist cantury and beyond This ambitious goal is shared by the International Councl of Societies of Industral Design (ICSID, 2010), who emphasizes that the ask of design Ís te enhance global sustanablity and environmental protection to give benefits and freedom tothe entire human community, and to support cultral

‘versity despite the globalaaton ofthe world

“That the broad focus of this definition is not selL-evident can be conchided when looking to the prior definition of indusvial dergn as was offal adopted in 1959 (ICSID 1959) When comparing both đeñntiems ít le ear thatthe working area of the industrial designer has been considerably widened during the last 50 years Where the 1959 definition puts great emphasis on the "materials machanvsm, shape colour surficefnshes and decoration of object, the current efron talks about "the multfaceted qualities of object, processes, services and thei systems

in whole lf cycles" And while the 1959 defrition emphasizes the production ofthese products

in industrial processes, the naw defintion explicitly mentions that it = not ony about products that are produced by terial processes, maintaining 2 much broader perspective on the role and task of design emphasizing its responsibilty with regard to its contribution to sustainability in 3 obaling world

Allin all there appear to be three developments that enhance each other First a broadening of the wortdng rea of dasign, where is no longer only about the development of new products, but bout the development of processes, services and complex, interconnected systems Second, an forganizatioral development where designers and other actors are increasingly collaborating across the boundaries of vantour felds of expertse and disciplines And the i= not only about collaboration between companies, but also between government societal organizations and nowledge institutions Third a growing emphasis on the need to actively contribute to sustainably, from an ecological as well 3s from a social perspactive Located inthe middle ofall these developments, when viewed from the perspective of this study isthe designer the design process and the new product And that ngư product must therefore nat only be “new and Improved", but mut ako become "new to improve” the society in whic i faneuons (hence the tile ofthis research)

Several efforts have been pursued to structure the design process in such a way that it Incorporates this sustainable systems perspective in a aystemnte manner However, when studying the fields of expertise of indurinal design engneering and surtnable product evelopment it appears that stil a lack of insight exsts regarding the way thatthe design process

nd the role of designers can be organized in such a vay, tht the relationship between new Products and the socio-technical or societal context in which these products Kineton are taken Ino aecaune systematialy rites may even comment that many designers that want to contribute to sustaibilty can be considered to be rather naive, desenbing them as action

‘oriented people who simply start to work on new surtsinble solutions, only to be caught by the

“unpleasant surprise thatthe world for some reason does not implement many of their beautiful ideas Others emphasize that itis necessary to create clear boundaries regirding both the ambition and the context of systom oriented desig initatives, and to clarify more explicitly how

to balance short-term goals with long-term anes The fact tht thi knowledge apparency is

‘missing has led tothe setup of this revearch

“To gun more insight in this issue, in adtion to the area of industrial design engineering and the area of sustainable product development, two related fields of expertise Fave been studied: The res of sustainable system innovation and the area of systems engineering Both Fes of expertie

‘cantin their own unique perspective on the systems design ieue, However, alzo when looking at

hope | Inout those fields of expertise stil no answer can be found clariffing how to organize the design process and the role of designers in auch a way that tsystematilly incorporates the relationship between new products and the socio-technical or societal context in which these products function It appears tat 2 number of dasign and innavation models may be too focused on the development of one single product or system, and therefore deal insufciently wath the socio- technical and societal aspect at hand, Other models may handle an abstraction level that is £20 hgh so the aspect of concrete product development isnot sufficient deale with Based on this

‘outcome, the following research question and related subquestion have been formulated, dealing

‘with the “what, the “why”, the "how" and the “who” of the subject

Research question: How can the design process and the role of designers be described (and potentially be structured) in such 2 way that the mutual relationship between new products End the socio-technical or societal context in which these products function is taken into account ina systemacie manner?

Subquestion | ("what"): What is the relationship between (new) products and the socio: technical or societal system that they are apart of and how can this relationship be described ina systemave manner?

Subquestion 2 why": What isthe relationship between the problems and objectives that are being met by means of the functioning of a produet, compared to the societal problems and

‘objectives which are being met by means ofthe functioning of a socio-technical system, and how can this relationship be described in a systematic manner!

Subquestion 3 ("how"): What are the similarities and difrences between the product design Process and the way that socio-technical and societal change processes take place and how fan these process be interlinked ina systematic manner?

Subquestion 4 (‘who": How can the (potental) rola of the designer with rogard to the product design process, ax well as with regard to the way that soso-technial and societal Change processes take place, be described in a systematic manner?

‘et lnprore ~The Mtl fence betwen New Prods ond SdetalChonge Processes

2 Chapter 2: Research Approach

2.1 Intreduetion

2.1.1 Research philosophy

In the previous chapter the relationship between the development of new products and the course of societal change procestes wat examined, Based on th description, the question war posed how the design process and the role of designers can be described (and potentially be fructured) in such a ay tht the mutual reatonshsp between new products and the socie echniel or societal context in which these products function is ken into account in a systomatic manner

In this chapter we wll expan the route to be taken to find answers to ths question, This seareh for new knowledge can be compared to determining the contents of a “Black box’ Like 3 wrapped-up presene where the recient tries to guess what is inside Before the researcher can start the process of determining the contents of the black box he must fist decide which Pllosophical perspective he wants to base this investigation on How does the researcher view Fealty? Does he think chat ii feasible to ever dacover what i in the black box or does he belowe that it only about getting a clue ofthe contents, totaly dependent on the person who i holding the package! This mental framework is important because the way 2 research question i= formulated, the way an answer is sought, and the way the outcome of this invesbgacon is interpreted ll depend on the phlosophicl perspective maintained by the researcher, even if he

is not aware of this lohnson and Duberly, 2000) Ie just so happens that there area multitude of schools maneaining their own paradigm regarding this issue and they all have chair own vay tơ determine how to discover the contents ofthe black box For example, Plato could view the blacle box ar 2 reflection of 2 world purely of ideas, which exist outside of space and time, To touch the box and fo physcally handle would not even be a consideration for him: the lope thought process must lead to insight, while separated from the physical realty His collegue, Aristotle,

‘ejects Plato's dualism and is convinced tha man can indeed see, hear, fel and experience things

25 they relly are The discovery ofthe contents of the black box must therefore be based on a ensory-percoptible realty (Kiukhuhn, 1995) Franeis Bacon expands on tis empirical approach, Convinced that only ordered observations and goal-oriented experiment lead to generally valid knowledge,

During the 1920s a group of researchers refered to a8 the “Wiener Kreis! (Vienna Circe),

‘expands on this approach towards loll positinam or logeal empiricism, They maintain the base assumption that reality is made up of ordered, fixed, measurable and unchangeable building blocks

‘They add to ths that knowledge e only relevant if tis based on observing this objective realisy (Easterby Smith et al, 2002 28) Something that cannot be abjectvaly observed and analyzed, cannot be cenadercd at scenMfe, ratemÏ knovdedge The đemrcaden crte-en, or the manner

in which scientific knowledge can be distinguished from non-scientific knowledge, is further developed by Karl Papper in the form of crteal ravonaism, When searching forthe contents of the black box, he believes that we can never completely open the box containing the truth Determining the content ofthe “truth box” can only happen on the basis of our observation from the outside And this observation is never 100% objective, but always takes place on the bass of certain theory The researcher will never know whether a theory isthe abrolte truth He mut therefore search for eriteal tests thất cản By the theory The more cits tests that can be

‘Newt lproe~ The Mal fence betwen New Prods and Sct! Change Process endured, the higher the degree of “corroboration” of a theory (Popper 1959) The degree of

‘erraboration is an indicat forthe verisimltude The beter the corroboration ofa theory, the higher the veriilitade, or the “truth content” ofthe theory

‘The assumption that a world exists that can be measured with the aid of objective methods (instead of determing ths with the aid of more subjective perception reflection and intution)

‘wil ave the result that poscwistie researchers with the organizational and socal siances, just like their coleagues from natural sciences, will stre searching for generally vad paterns concerning the way organizations act In this way management of these organizations can Understand and influence their environment ina scent manner Johnson and Dubertey, 2000, 40) However socio-constructivits are questioning the applieablity of an objective natural seience

‘model to social sciences (Klein and Myers 1999 67) After all the natural environment cannot incerpret or influence its own environment while people can Therefore, realty is not an objective bue a socal construct It only acquires significance when people give it sigieance (Weick, 1995), The question is whether the rocio-constructivst approach can be considered

"cent, since it is £0 dependent on the context where the research takes place It frequentiy appears more like anecdotes, which may indeed provide much insight, but will contain very ele predictive value in aiferant context, The postiistic critic wil therefore indicate that thi ack of generalizability renders the outcome unustble The response of the socio-canstructivat will be thatthe outcome is indeed generalizable, but tht these generalizations are frequently £0 obvious that they are barely usable

Allin all this research will be conducted at much as possible from a criteal rationalise perspective The search for generally valid principles wil however tke place withthe necessary estraie, considering the fact that design and innovation processes are diractd by the behavior of people whose behavior can only be eaptured in part by objective, efutabe theories, a8 justfably tated by the socio-constructvats, Therefore the outcome can best be described 25 9 criti!

‘ationsltic study with a socio-construcuatsecent

2.1.2 Conceptual model

“To veualze the issues that are relevant to this research, a conceptunl was developed, displayed in Figure 2 Iesver related to the development of products are indicted with the letter esuoe rebted tothe socio-technical and societal context are indicated with the lettar S The rola of the esigne, a8 well as other actors involved, i indicated with the letter A, The actual change process leading from the starting postion (PSI) to the new stuntion(PS2) i indicated with the letter X az this can be considered 28 the "back box” in weich we want to gain isight The meaning ofthe symbol i clarified in Table 2-1 In section 1.3, the four research issues that are relevant for answering the research question were dicussed These can now be “mapped” on the conceptual

‘model

“The frst research isue (products and society) was derive from subquestion | and rofers to the

“what” agpact of the research We see this agin in the conceptual model, inthe relationship between product P and soc-technical or societal eystam 5 This is about the way chat the systemic relationship between them can be presented In Figure 2-2 (top let) the way thatthe product ad society” sue ean be recognized inthe conceptual models clarified

“The second rerearch isue (problems and objective) was derived from subquestion 2 and refers

to the "why" aspect ofthe research This is about che functioning of bath the product and the functioning of the socio-technical or societal system, and the problems and objectives that are boeing met by means of ths funesonality The question here is what if any, Is the relationship between both lends of probleme and objectives, In Figure 2-2 (tap right) the way that the problems and objectives" ean be recognized inthe conceptual models claried

“The third research issue (design process) was derived from subquestion 3 and refers to the

Copter 2— Research Approach how’ aspect of the research This research issue ie related to the way the actual change or trandertauon process takes place, at the product level as well as at the soco-technial of societal level The expectation of this research is that both processes influence each other and the question is how the design process can be described in uch a way that this mutual influence i= taken into acount in a systematie manner For the eme being thi ese is indiated 35 joint process ar 3 “blac box” of which we want to ain a better understanding In Figure 2-2 (bottom le) the way chat the "design peocest” can be racognaed in the concept! moda! clarified The fourth research tue (designer and actors) war derived from subquertion 4 and refers to the

"who" aspect of tha research In Figure 2-2 (bottom right) the way thie this ive can be recognized inthe conceptual mode! i claned Here everything that takes place with regard to product development, soco-technical or societal change process isa considered az one single Umbrella variable and the role ofthe actors and the designer as another The arrow between the

‘wo variables indicates their mutual relavonship

—

Figure 2-1: Conceptual made!

Table 2: Legend for the conceptual model

Symbol ani

Psi Staring postion

Pl Product in sartng pstion

sỈ Sociotechrical o societal station in starting pasion

Pre Product related problems and objectives

se Socio-techncal or societal problems and objectives

‘Newt lproe~ The Mal fence betwen New Prods and Sct! Change Process

Product ond eo “hot”

eign proces / “how “eigen and eters /-who™

gure 2-2: Reloion between conceptual model and research issues

3⁄2 Research Phase I: Problem Situation |

“This research is based on a four-phase approach based on Popper (Popper 1999, 14) Problem sitution | analyzed inthe fre phase After thes follow a tantatve theory, Next isa proces in

‘which this new theory wll be tested in a process of error elimination, followed by a new problem

"stuntion 2 Each ofthese four phases willbe explained in more deta

“The fist stop in thi investigation was the determination ofthe research question The research {question and rested subquestione have been discussed in chapter I The formulation of the esearch question is determined by the research objectives that the researcher is aiming for

‘According to Yin (1994), we can distingush between three kinds of objectives: First is the

‘exploration of a subject Second isthe description of a phenomenon And finaly, the explanation fof what is observed Exploratory research is appled in order to map the nature of certain problems This type of research is erpecally suited to contextualize and define problems, for

‘ample when the researcher doos not yet know which model applies and which characteristics And relationships are relevant, Descriptive research is apphed to clearly structured research

` problems, The researcher knows what itis he wants to lear, but this knowledge is not yet wAlable anywhere Explanatory research, also referred to as causal research is focused on {questions with an obvious cause-and-effect relationehip This applies parvculsrly to phenomena Which are relatively familar but where one searches for the underlying reasons why certain Phenomena occur andthe causal links they are based on, Explanatory research often expands on preceding exploratory and descriptive research, The particuar focus of this research is an Esglorarory nsestgpoen, hich wil gve the inital impetus for a deseripcve model regarding the way thae the design process and the role of designers can be desenibed (and potently be fructured) in such 3 way thatthe mutial relationship between new products and the socie technical or societal context in which thase products function can be taken into account in a systematic manner,

‘The exploration of ‘problem situation Ii divided in two parts In chapter 3, it wil be about a broad reflection on developments in che fd of industnal dig, discussing che background isues that influence the field of expertise as can be recognized in the two very diffrent defintions of the ICSID (see section I.13) The focus of chapter 4 is much more narrow and is about the design process” and about “design models, as discussed in section 165 In this chapter, existing design apd innovation models are analyzed to determine in how far they provide the answers for the research question and subquestions ae discussed in section | In order to structure his analyse the various methods and models are arranged into four areas of expertise

+ Industrial Desig Engineering

+ Systems Engineering

+ Sustainable Product Development

+ Sustainable Systam Innovation

Together these models give an impression of the current status in the field of expertise of Industral design and some related fields of expertise that may be helpflin answering the research (question Besides the analyse of existing detign and innovation models chapter 4 wil alo discuss the conditions that an ideal design model must sats, In order to provide the insight as

‘mentioned inthe esearch question

2.3 Research Phase 2: Tentative Theory

‘The analysis in chapter 4 wil demonstrate that existing design and innovation models indeed offer valuable Clues but azo that no single model is exactly suitable to help answer the research

‘question Ths is because exsting models, particularly inthe ares of industrial design engineering and systems engincering are too often targeting the development of one single product or fystem, Because of this the socio-technical and societal agpect mentioned in the research

‘question cannot be desl with in an appropriate manner Other modal, especially those in the tren of sustainable systems innovation and transitions, handle an erpecally high abstraction level tnd in addon are of a more contemplative nature Because of ths the product development

‘spect mentioned inthe rexearch question cannot be dele with nan appropriate manner

‘This i the reason tha, based on the demands of the “ideal” design model that will be formulated

In ehapter 4 (see section 47, Table 4.2), n phase 2 of the research a modified design mode wil

be developed in chapter 5, which wil continue to buld on the inventory of design models a2 discussed in phase | Therefore existing madels will be transformed to a naw multvel design model, which may be considered as 9 tentative theory oF conjecture, which will be evaluated on its merits in the next phase When discussing the descriptive, explanatory and prescriptive aspects

of the research a distinction should be made about the research tall (whichis an exploratory