Creative Design support framework for Universal Product development

Abstract

In the fierce and cruel market competition, the application of Creative Design approach in product designing is widely considered as an effective way to improve a company's competitiveness. Based on the concept of Universal Design (UD), Universal Product makes products equally convenient to use for all the users. Most companies hold that only a conservative and non-creative designing strategy can make sure that their products be used by all the people. In order to controvert this argument, the thesis put forward a Creative Design framework to help designers develop a creative Universal Product. The process of this framework includes: (1) to discover design opportunities with People Who Are (PWA) user grouping and user research method developed by Eric Henry Swanson, (2) to integrate the SCAMPER approach with UD Principles and improve designers' creativity through communication with users on the Co-Creation Platform, and (3) to evaluate the results of datum on every stage of the designing process with Product Performance Program (PPP). The framework proves that it is achievable to have the designing results shared by everyone while maintaining the companies' competitiveness.