Use of graphical modality in a collaborative design distant setting

Abstract

In this paper, we present an original environment, the Distributed Collaborative Design Studio (DCDS) which allows multimodal real-time remote exchanges, and which aims at re-creating remotely the conditions of co-present meetings. This environment associates a videoconference tool (supporting verbal and non-verbal communication) and an original realtime shared digital hand-drawn sketches system (supporting graphical communication). The users can import documents and annotate them in real-time at distance. In this paper, we are interested in studying the use of the graphical modality (digital sketch and document annotations) as a tool for collective design and remote communication. This study takes place in the framework of a collaborative architectural design studio, which has taken place during 3 month, and gathering students from Belgium and France to work together in 3 small groups mainly at distance. The study focuses on the role of graphical modality in the synchronous remote meetings supported by the DCDS. We identify the types of digital annotations made on the imported document, thanks to the electronic pen, and their role in the cognitive processes of designing and in the collaboration and communication processes. We also identify the different practices of digital sketching, according to the group and its collaborative strategies. We discuss the utility of the graphical modality as an efficient support for collaborative synchronous activities and show that the DCDS environment supports different strategies of collaborative design (co-design and distributed design). We conclude on recommendations for improving the system and for designing sketch-based collaborative environments.

Analyzing co-design of agroecology-oriented cropping systems: lessons to build design-support tools

“…In disciplines other than agronomy, sketches have been used by architects as tools to share representations of the solution (Brun et al 2016). Designers visualize and manipulate the objects under design, to express their interpretations of complex solutions and to share diverse intentions and ideas (Safin et al, 2012) in a "reflective conversation" with these external representations (Schön, 1983).…”

“…Sketches for instance support the exploration of solutions (Brun et al, 2016). Design-support tool also allow the construction of external representations of the object under design to support complex design processes (Visser 2006;Détienne 2006;Safin et al 2012) and thus the dialogue between designers and theses external representations (Schön, 1983). Last but not least, such tools support dialogue between designers, as boundary objects, and thus sustain the establishment of common ground (Boujut and Blanco, 2003).…”

Prototyping with purpose: Increasing participatory design with malleable interactive prototypes

“…However, the issue of how participatory design activities can be conducted over distance is prevalent in PD since the distance between collaborators can introduce difficulties. Distance-related issues can be a reduced shared situational awareness since collaborators are in different settings, such as difficulty identifying the design problem, design changes or who is doing what (Safin et al, 2012). Furthermore, the distance may limit the users' view of what the shared common ground is since how the problem should be solved collaboratively may be unclear due to the lack of multimodality in the communication channels (Safin et al, 2012).…”

“…(Tuikka & Salmela, 1999, p. 51) Tuikka and Salmela (1999) used "smart virtual prototyping", which created a shared design space for the participating product designers and customers but focused on virtual reality content rather than IT systems, GUI and interaction design. Safin et al (2012), again unrelated to the PD field, also exemplify how essential visualisation and synchronous access to the graphical modality is and how it can be used to foster communication and collaboration over distance in a design process. A study on designer-to-designer work over distance by Scrivener et al (1993) explored a similar strategy to allow designers to collaborate around a shared visualisation, yet not within the design of digital systems.…”