Experience matrix: A structured concept development method for the industrial design practice in new product development

Abstract

While user-centered design (UCD) methods have been utilized in the industrial design practice for new product development to discover the latent needs of people, there remain limitations of applying UCD methods to the design process. With limited time and resources, industrial designers’ complex role to deal with multiple aspects of a product limits access to users. While translating research findings into concepts is a challenge to designers, their ideation processes are unstructured and ambiguous, and this mystical approach could negatively affect the success of new product development. The experience matrix is proposed as a structured ideation tool to guide designers ideating from user experience viewpoints. By examining user activities, product components, and operation environments as major elements comprising the design space, designers can frame problems and generate concepts effectively and systematically. The construct and procedure of the experience matrix are explained through its application to an industrial design project.