How design students construct electronic circuit designs for tiny interactive prototypes: A study in an undergraduate course

Our ability to study, develop, and innovate has drastically transformed with the advent of maker technology and personal fabrication. An increasing number of people have used a wide variety of these creative technologies in recent years. Creating an electronic circuit inside a tiny prototype can be challenging for design students. Studies on design students’ circuit assembly tasks on tiny prototypes are scarce. This study investigated how students assemble circuits in tiny prototyping and which factors influence these activities. Our interview study involved undergraduate students using technologies to prototype interactivities at a design school. We analyzed the students’ prototypes and discussions using the grounded theory framework. We observed that tiny prototype circuits might be characterised by volume, composition, structure, dynamics, and isolating properties. These properties might depend on the prototype's form factor, circuit routing needs, circuit base material, and circuit flexibility. Planning, experimenting, and the varied availability of conductive and circuit support materials might facilitate experimentation during circuit design. Our results shed light on the need for additional study and the development of boards and electronic componentry for educational practitioners.