The concept factory – visualisation as a method for designing workplaces
The difficulty of communicating and getting messages across is a problem in work environment management. With the help of computer-aided visualisations, processes can be clarified and a more active discussion can be achieved in the process of developing a vision of tomorrow's workplace.
Visualisation – a picture is worth a thousand words?
The dictionary meaning of visualisation is to illustrate using images with the intention of providing better understanding. Whatever type of visualisation we are talking about, it involves the communication of ideas, thoughts and concepts. Computer-assisted visualisation can be developed as a tool for creating commitment and participation, facilitating exchange of experience and communication, promoting continuous improvement and achieving competitiveness.
The sketch is often the first way to communicate the idea or thought between those present. Sketching makes us more creative, forcing us to express our thoughts in a concrete way for everyone involved to understand. Often sketching is also linked to an exploratory phase in early development. The designer examines the problem and the sketching supports the analysis (Olofsson & Sjölén, 2005). A mock-up or sketch model is a design model used at an early stage to clarify certain requirements or functions that should be placed on the result. With today's technology, advanced models can be built on the computer in a relatively short time and evaluated according to the requirements. Computer models can be animated to further communicate the idea, the concept. This is just a sample of the many visualisation techniques available during a design process. Using visualisation as a methodology for designing a workplace, for better communication and understanding, is the idea behind this project.
Participants in a working group looking at images can get an idea of what the planned changes might look like, suggest additions and changes at an early stage. A discussion based on visual communication can involve more people in the development of the workplace. According to Åteg, Andersson and Rosén (2005), the risk of misunderstandings and conflicts is reduced when things are clarified with images.
“Improvement work through communication with the help of images presupposes that several people work together to achieve greater understanding of their joint work and bring about changes. Visualisation can help to create common perceptions about concrete phenomena. The discussion in a project group can become livelier and more committed if it is supported by visualisation of what has been discussed.” Johansson (1999)
The research project
The project “The good factory – a concept factory developed by women” is financed by AFA Försäkring. The project will investigate the possibilities of designing a health-promoting and efficient “concept factory” by developing a visualised model for production systems based on women's requirements for good industrial work. In short, an interactive design process will be used to design a conceptual workplace. The actors are female designers, engineers, architects, constructors and workplace designers who are not normally involved in production development, but who have industrial experience. One of the starting points is that the work environment needs to be updated as society and production conditions change. The ambition is to do this from a gender perspective to see if the end result is something new and different.
Implementation and purpose of the project
The project continues for three years and is divided into three phases: 1) Knowledge overview, 2) Preliminary study and 3) Project planning. In phase 2, an empirical mapping of preferences regarding production environment and workplaces will be carried out. Visualisation will be an important part of the methodology to communicate the message between stakeholders. Phase 3 is an interactive part of the project where we want to break common patterns in the development of production systems by letting women, who usually do not participate in production development, participate in workshops. The purpose of the project is to investigate how visualisation can be used interactively in the design of a workplace in the same spirit as during design work to practically communicate the work with those involved.
Contact
Åsa Wikberg-Nilsson
- Professor and Head of Subject, Head of subject, Distinguished University Teacher
- 0920-491342
- asa.wikberg-nilsson@ltu.se
- Åsa Wikberg-Nilsson
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