This thesis proposes that non-linear narratives (hypertexts) open up new realms of exploration for designers and non-designers, or introduce dynamic narratives that offer multiple solutions, scenarios, and personas within one design context. The researcher builds on current uses of narratives in design, interactive fiction, and psychoanalysis in order to challenge the purpose for scenarios and personas within the design process as more than presentation tools and methods for the completion of a product. Instead, the researcher is interested in exploring whether multilinear narratives may be used at multiple stages, and for different people, within the design process.In order to assess the potential for hypertext to be used in the design process, the researcher used the open-software, Twine, to construct an interactive scenario sample for designers to explore. The results of this work demonstrate that hypertext preserves the functions of scenarios and personas to introduce a subject, explore a scenario, and address a particular design problem, while successfully implementing interactive elements and a non-sequential story structure to understand the context of the story based on the goals and ideas of the reader.iii
AcknowledgementsThe completion of this thesis was partly a linguistic achievement. Industrial design welcomed me into the program by challenging me to find a space for myself alongside trained artists, makers, and interdisciplinary scholars. To come from a humanities background and engage in a discipline that is its own amalgamation of science, engineering, art, psychology, and anthropology was similar to learning how to speak again.None of this work would have been possible if not for the people in Industrial Design -WonJoon Chung (a motivator, metaphor master, and research genius), Lois Frankel, Stephen Field, Thomas Garvey, and Bjarki Hallgrimsson. My co-adviser, Anthony Whitehead, deserves special thanks for being able to translate my media and technology ideas into cohesive statements and applicable tools. My fellow MDES students were especially kind to me in this phase of disciplinary transition, but I would like to thank Alena Iouguina and Michael Grigoriev in particular for assisting me constantly, making me laugh, and helping me find a place for myself.
