Design Team Members Research Articles

Implementation of the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program in a Retail Setting: A Feasibility Study and Framework for Evaluation.

Participatory methods used in Total Worker Health® programs have not been well studied, and little is known about what is needed to successfully implement these programs. We conducted a participatory health promotion program with grocery store workers using the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program (HWPP) from the Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace. We recruited a design team made up of six line-level workers and a steering committee with management and union representatives; a research team member facilitated the program. Using a formal evaluation framework, we measured program implementation including workplace context, fidelity to HWPP materials, design team and steering committee engagement, program outputs, and perceptions of the program. The HWPP was moderately successful in this setting, but required a substantial amount of worker and facilitator time. Design team members did not have the skills needed to move through the process and the steering committee did not offer adequate support to compensate for the team’s shortfall. The evaluation framework provided a simple and practical method for identifying barriers to program delivery. Future studies should address these barriers to delivery and explore translation of this program to other settings.

Branding the United Nations: The Adoption of the UN Insignia and Flag, 1941–1950

This article contends that the symbols of the United Nations (UN) have played a vital role in establishing the organization’s identity and in protecting its personnel. The design and usage of these emblems developed in a number of steps in the 1940s and early 1950s, a process dominated mainly by Americans. Although private admirers of the UN originated a number of serviceable and aesthetically pleasing designs, products mainly of their own self-initiative, the emblems chosen by the UN were prepared by professional designers, starting with an Office of Strategic Services (OSS) team operating under the aegis of the U.S. State Department. The author compares this process to product ‘branding’, and he also sees it as reflecting a longstanding claim to predominance in the internationalist project by technical specialists. In the 1940s, this dynamic revealed itself in rivalry between an elite of liberal internationalist technocrats and ‘populist internationalists’, the former coming to determine the character and choice of UN emblems. Members of the OSS design team had backgrounds in advertising and – not surprisingly – produced a logo-like design. The ultimate product of this process, a UN flag, was adopted in 1947, but it was treated by early UN bureaucrats like a protected trademark of the UN, at least until popular pressure-driven by an outpouring of mass emotion at the time of the Korean War – forced its release for broader public use.

A smart performance measurement approach for collaborative design in Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0, the fourth industrial revolution, focuses on intelligent and smart manufacturing. This article investigates a smart design performance measurement approach, which can be utilized to support performance measurement implementation during a collaborative design process. First, we develop a smart product design framework with Industry 4.0 enabling technologies to support key design stages in an iterative fashion. Second, based on this framework, we propose a smart design performance measurement approach to potentially support a smart product design project management via its performance management. Third, we adapt our existing design performance measurement, for a traditional design environment into a smart design environment at its early stage to test its feasibility. This approach features integration of a flexible performance measurement setup, a multi-feedback design performance measurement mechanism and a multiple design performance measurement results presentation which allows the design performance measurement approach to produce flexible and customized operations by connecting design performance measurement with the stage-based design objectives, balancing design performance measurement feedbacks through interoperability between collaborative design team members and providing real-time design performance measurement results to guide design activities. An empirical industrial evaluation case study indicates that the proposed design performance measurement approach can support design team members in improving their collaborative design performance.

User-centered design of a customized assistive device to support feeding

This paper presents the design process of an assistive device for people with Parkinson’s disease or some level of tremor in the hands. A user-centered design approach is proposed, based on the integration of the tools House of Quality (QFD) and TRIZ in search of feasible and inventive technical solutions focused on meeting users’ requirements. 3D printing was also used as a tool to support and refine the design, through the manufacture of mock-ups and prototypes used in interaction and testing with users. The proposed design process brought relevant improvements in four main aspects: 1) facilitated the communication among members of the multidisciplinary design team (engineers, occupational therapists, end users); 2) provided a clearer identification of the design demands as well as the users’ needs, incorporating them into the process; 3) promoted a reduction in development time as a whole; 4) allowed the generation of feasible and inventive solutions, with functionality and innovation. Preliminary tests with the functional prototype have been conducted with a 60-year-old male with Parkinson’s disease on regular medication use and the single-case experimental design has been applied to evaluate the impact on the quality of the feeding task in terms of performance and satisfaction.

Making Formwork Design Lean

Traditional formwork design processes entail considerable waste, increasing non-value-adding manpower costs and operational time. The purpose of this research is to use lean thinking in formwork design so as to enhance design correctness and eliminate waste through establishing a Lean Formwork Design Process. In the design process, the concurrent design concept is adopted to provide a visual communication platform for design team members using Building Information Modeling (BIM). Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) are used as a protocol for sharing design artifacts. Design correctness is established to review and correct design errors, thus allowing for the construction of an organizational learning environment. Finally, the Lean Formwork Design Process is conceptualized using stock-flow diagrams. A real case is used to validate the applicability of the proposed approach. Application results show that the proposed method can enhance design correctness and reduce manpower waste and operational time in formwork engineering. This study is one of the first to apply lean thinking to improve practices in formwork design.

A Professional Profile of an Award Winning Instructional Team

A collaborative effort between members of an instructional design team is the focus of this co-authored professional profile. The purpose of the collaboration was to design a unique and pedagogically sound online general psychology course, with the focus of promoting student engagement and retention. The instructional team prepared for the collaboration by attending professional development and coordinating schedules. Weekly brainstorming sessions were used to develop a course to meet the needs of diverse learners. The course was submitted to Blackboard Inc.'s Exemplary Course Program (ECP), and in March of 2018, the team received news of their exemplary award status. This profile highlights the preparation required and the methods used to collaborate to design an award-winning course.

A Professional Profile of an Award Winning Instructional Team

A collaborative effort between members of an instructional design team is the focus of this co-authored professional profile. The purpose of the collaboration was to design a unique and pedagogically sound online general psychology course, with the focus of promoting student engagement and retention. The instructional team prepared for the collaboration by attending professional development and coordinating schedules. Weekly brainstorming sessions were used to develop a course to meet the needs of diverse learners. The course was submitted to Blackboard Inc.'s Exemplary Course Program (ECP), and in March of 2018, the team received news of their exemplary award status. This profile highlights the preparation required and the methods used to collaborate to design an award-winning course.

The Supportive Roles of Adults in Designing with Young Deaf Children

Involving users in the research and design of new technologies is particularly relevant for groups affected by digital exclusion and lacking in cultural power, such as people with disabilities, people from cultural minorities, and children. Design with young Deaf children lies at the intersection of these three groups, as the medical community defines physical deafness as a disability; Deaf communities around the world identify as minority cultural groups with their own languages; and young children traditionally lack power in interactions with adults. Deaf children bring particular needs, abilities and experiences related to their youth, physical deafness and cultural Deafness to the technology design process, making their involvement in design vital. Their involvement presents a unique set of challenges and ethical considerations, including matters of consent and behaviour management. Adult involvement in supportive roles can facilitate young Deaf children’s involvement in design activities and address some of the challenges of designing with Deaf children.
 This article presents a case study that involved young Australian Deaf children as design partners, with their family members and Deaf and hearing education professionals in supportive roles, for the purpose of providing recommendations to researchers and designers who wish to undertake similar design activities with young Deaf children and supportive adults. The case study involved a series of 30-minute design sessions with four Deaf children (ages 3-5). Reflections on this case study will discuss the roles adult design team members took throughout the design sessions, the benefits and challenges of involving adults as members of design teams with young Deaf children, and ethical considerations to be addressed when designing with young Deaf children in design teams. The article concludes with recommendations for researchers and designers conducting design sessions with young Deaf children and adult supporters, so that young Deaf child designers are well-supported and have the freedom to explore their preferences, desires, requirements, and to contribute to design solutions.

CoStorm: a term map system to aid in a collaborative ideation process

AbstractThe decisions made during the early stages of a design process have a huge impact on a product. Owing to the explosion of preliminary ideas, however, designers easily lose track of important ideas and significant information and end up being buried in a pile of plain words. Failing to locate an idea in the context of idea generation makes it difficult to generate new ideas or take optimized decisions. In this study, the authors propose the term map approach to provide a complete bird's eye view of all ideas, which is a higher-dimension graphical representation that helps in inspiring ideas and making decisions among design team members. A software application named CoStorm is developed. Through the case study of the cash-flattener module, which is a crucial component of an automated teller machine, this method is found to contribute in facilitating the ideation and decision-making progress.

Implicaciones del cambio organizacional en la estructura de los equipos de diseño arquitectónico en el área de la construcción.

Nowadays, digitization is the most important change factor for the building field and for society. Thereby, integrated digital information infrastructure development to building field goes beyond of design a traditional project. What does organizational implications have the architectural design teams changes in the Building area? The article aim is to analyse the organizational change in the architectural roles of design teams of contemporary building companies because of the automation. The result was to detection that building traditional organizations accumulate information and therefore the roles members of architectural design team are directed to document the process. Meanwhile, contemporary building organizations orient their changes to the Smart manufacturing and the automated environments.

The Key to Safety: Following Protocols.

The Key to Safety: Following Protocols.

CMDOWS: a proposed new standard to store and exchange MDO systems

This paper proposes a new format to store and exchange multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) systems. Here, the generic term MDO system refers to the set of disciplinary tools, their exchanged data and process connections that, all together, define an MDO computational setup. In the process leading to the formal specification of such a computational system, the set of tools, data and connections evolves, until a complete MDO system formulation (not executable) is reached. The proposed open-source standard, called CMDOWS (Common MDO Workflow Schema), has been developed to support this process. The key aspect of the format is its neutral XML-based data representation, making any stored MDO system exchangeable between the design team members and applications (e.g., tool repositories, visualization packages) developed to support the team in setting up the MDO system. This exchangeability is a key enabler for the creation of a versatile MDO framework. Furthermore, CMDOWS provides the starting point to translate any MDO system formulation into an executable workflow using a workflow platform of choice. To the authors’ knowledge, such an exchange format does currently not exist, notwithstanding the enormous potential it would have for the exploitation of large-scale MDO in industry. A case study demonstrating the use of CMDOWS is presented in this paper. It was concluded that the current version of CMDOWS already provides a robust standard to store and exchange MDO systems. The schema will be extended to meet future developments and promote its adoption as a recognized standard in the broader MDO community.

Studying Implementation within a Continuous-Improvement Process: What Happens When We Design with Adaptations in Mind?

Background/ContextThis study examines the implementation of an academic and social-emotional learning innovation called Personalization for Academic and Social Emotional Learning, or PASL. The innovation was designed, tested, and implemented using a continuous continuous-improvement model. The model emphasized a top-and-bottom process in which implementers played a central role in the innovation design, and adaptations were planned, tested, and refined based on local school contexts.PurposeThis study sought to understand what implementation integrity looked like in three high schools participating in a continuous continuous-improvement process that promoted deliberate, planned adaptations to PASL, and as well as to uncover factors that may explain differences in the integrity of PASL implementation across the three schools.Research DesignWe conducted embedded, qualitative case studies of three large, racially-, ethnically-, and linguistically- diverse urban high schools. Data collected and analyzed included interviews with school innovation design design-team members, student focus groups, and observations of teachers implementing PASL.FindingsEach school made site-specific adaptations to the PASL innovation before and during implementation. However, there was variation in the extent to which the schools demonstrated integrity to the PASL design and their own adaptations. A combination of local contextual factors helped explain differences in implementation integrity across the schools. These factors included the availability of resources and ongoing technical support, the will of local implementers, and perceptions about policy alignment.Conclusions/RecommendationsWhile PASL was implemented across the three school sites, the degree of implementation integrity varied, suggesting that encouraging program adaptation alone may not solve longstanding challenges associated with achieving depth of implementation. This is the first study of its kind in education, however, and more research is clearly warranted.

Creative collaborations in the design of buildings

Integrating acoustical design features in rooms that fulfill acoustical, architectural, mechanical, and other functions simultaneously requires close collaboration among design team members. The efforts involved each team member understanding the other disciplines to the extent that they could creatively interpret the work. Three case studies will highlight the advantages of this type of collaboration. Full size mock-ups, computer modeling, auralizations, and other advanced design tools assist in this process. The first is a wall panel in a large museum that is used as a spatial divider, a sound attenuating return air plenum, and a surface for exhibiting artwork. A multi-function atrium was used as the central organizing feature in another museum. Design efforts explored how sounds propagated from one level to the next could be reduced. Multi-functional, layered wall assemblies that contained variable acoustic features, sound diffusing/reflecting panels, supply and return air distribution and layers to reduce sounds entering the building from the exterior were used in the renovation of a college theater. Multiple iterations of acoustical, architectural, mechanical and interior design efforts followed by intense analysis and discussion proved very rewarding for the design team with beautiful looking and sounding spaces.

A survey on problems encountered in current concrete construction and the potential benefits of self-healing cementitious materials

The annual costs for repair, maintenance and replacement of civil engineering infrastructure attracts significant expenditure in the UK. Anecdotal evidence suggests that a significant number of existing and new concrete structures suffer from repair and maintenance problems, but a lack of objective construction industry supported data concerning these problems makes it difficult to establish, with any certainty, the actual problems encountered in current concrete construction in the UK. To address this lack of data, a market research exercise was commissioned by the Materials for Life (M4L) EPSRC funded research project. The market research has shown that damage in the form of cracking in concrete structures was experienced by more clients, design team members and civil engineering contractors than any other problem. Structures requiring articulation and subject to dynamic loads such as bridges were noted as being the most vulnerable to damage, with this damage mostly occurring in the joints and half joints, bearings and the deck of such structures. The main consequential effects of damage in concrete structures were the need for the contractor to return for repairs as well as the need for regular monitoring. The current approaches taken to enhance a structure’s longevity mainly involve the use of additional cementitious material to improve the barrier between the environment and the steel reinforcement. However, an alternative could be to use the self-healing cementitious materials that have been proposed by the M4L research team. Until now there has been insufficient evidence regarding how these materials may be deployed in the construction industry, and the applications to which they may be best suited in terms of added-value. The market research results show that highways and infrastructure generally and water retaining structures would benefit most from self-healing cementitious materials, with reduced maintenance costs over a structure’s lifetime justifying a premium in the capital material cost. Reduced whole-life costs and fewer repair and maintenance interventions will have a significant influence on the economic, environmental and social impact of repair and maintenance events, which will be of benefit to the UK as a whole.

Representation of intended user experiences of a vehicle in early design stages

This research explores cross-functional design information exchange during the early phases of vehicle development projects and discusses the underlying notion of 'functional walls' hindering interactions between design team members with different backgrounds. This paper details an experimental phase composed of three stages. The first research stage collected and clustered descriptions of real-life user experiences. These clusters were then used for the selection of intentions related to a future vehicle and for the creation of early representations. Different versions of these representations were then assessed by automotive professionals in order to understand the influence of the layout on the understanding of design information and subjective perception criteria. The results obtained show that multi-sensory layouts tend to be better understood and more appreciated. Finally, their contribution to the opening of 'functional walls' is discussed together with the nature of design information that can be conveyed by preliminary representations.

“I’m Just Guiding You”: An Exploration of Software Design Mentorship within a Software Engineering Firm

The case study presented here uses an interpretivist (qualitative, humanistic) approach to illustrate and describe a range of interactions and behaviors that occur during design meetings where mentoring and design simultaneously occur within a software engineering firm, during a portion of the design phase for a software project. It attempts to examine the interaction between two design team members (one novice and one expert) and describes how these observations intersect with the theoretical and applied literature and actual design processes. Taking cues from two theoretical descriptions of the design process, the study presented here suggests that modes and models of mentorship should be added, when applicable, as a descriptive portion of the design process.

Factors affecting building services’ coordination during the design development and review stages

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify and assess the factors affecting building services’ coordination during the design development and review stages of building projects.Design/methodology/approachLiterature review and interviews were conducted to identify the factors affecting building services’ coordination. In total, 36 factors were identified under six categories: planning phase of the project; design of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems; construction of MEP systems; operation and maintenance of MEP systems; owner; and design team and tools used. This formed the basis of a questionnaire survey designed utilizing a 5-point Likert scale of importance. The survey was assessed by practitioners in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia.FindingsThe top five factors include the scale and complexity of the project, the level of experience of the design team, the quality of the preliminary/conceptual design of the building project, the clarity of the requirements and objectives provided by the owner, the allotted budget for the project and communication skills of the design team members. A high level of agreement between A/E professionals and contractors, and between contractors and facility managers was noted. The research provides the ranking of the identified factors for prioritization.Practical implicationsThe paper provides stakeholders in the building services industry with the ranks of the factors that affect building services’ coordination.Originality/valueThe study provided a significant contribution to research and industry, especially in the regional context, where few studies have been conducted. The findings of the study will help in the reduction of construction wastes, delays and cost over-runs.

Constructing Slow Sand Filters: Engineering Students’ Experiences in San José de Playón, Bolívar, Colombia

Sol Park, Sanyukta Gokhale, and Kaylyn Colinco were members of a Global Design Team (GDT) involved in providing innovative solutions to drinking water treatment in rural areas of developing countries. The immediate goal of the GDT in May 2016 was to deliver large slow sand filters (SSFs) to a rural school in Colombia. The experience placed the students in a small town 80 km (~50 miles) south of Cartagena, Colombia, called San José de Playón. The town pumps water from the Arroyo Reservoir, which is then consumed by the citizens and students at the local school (the only one in town) without any treatment. Students and faculty at the University of Cartagena hosted the GDT to work with the school for a week. The project consisted of building the SSFs and teaching the school staff about disinfection methods. The simple yet smart design of the SSFs was ideal for teachers and children at the school, but collaborative work with NGOs and local community leaders will be necessary to provide clean water for years to come. From speaking rudimentary Spanish with the schoolchildren, to drying the sand and constructing the actual filters, every step of the project was enriching. The experience raised awareness and compassion for all humanity, sharing what can be shared for the benefit of the greater global community, and the notion that all people are one entity regardless of ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Transitional care for rheumatic conditions in Europe: current clinical practice and available resources

ObjectiveTo assess European pediatric rheumatology providers’ current clinical practices and resources used in the transition from child-centered to adult-oriented care.MethodsEuropean pediatric rheumatologists were invited to complete a 17-item anonymized e-survey assessing current transition practices, transition policy awareness, and needs in advance of the publication of EULAR/PReS recommendations on transition.ResultsThe response rate was 121/276 (44%), including responses from 115 centers in 22 European Union countries. Although 32/121 (26%) responded that their centers did not offer transition services, the majority (99%) agreed that a formalized process in transitioning patients to adult care is necessary. A minority (<30%) of respondents stated that they have a written transition policy although 46% have an informal transition process. Designated staff to support transitional care were available in a minority of centers: nurse (35%), physiotherapist (15%), psychologist (15%), social worker (8%), and occupational therapist (2%). The existence of a designated team member to coordinate transition was acknowledged in many centers (64% of respondents) although just 36% use a checklist for young people as part of individualized transitional care.ConclusionThis survey of European pediatric rheumatology providers regarding transitional care practices demonstrates agreement that transitional care is important, and wide variation in current provision of transition services exists.