A communication-driven method for enhancing user participation in the design process

Design processes generally try to align user requirements with design solutions. Communication gaps between designers and users, nevertheless, may lead to mismatches between intended user experience and eventual perception by end users. This study presents a communication-driven method for enhancing user participation in the design process and formally incorporating user feedback. The method identifies and resolves user experience discontinuities by eliciting and consolidating qualitative and quantitative user appraisals. Building on the Semantic Discontinuity Detection method, the method (i) integrates user feedback into an iterative design process, and (ii) uses virtual reality simulations for design communication to detect and resolve discontinuities. The discontinuity results are communicated to designers, for improving correspondence between design outcomes and user experiences. Revised designs are evaluated for improved alignment, indicating validation of the method. The results show that communication-centered design effectively reduces experience inconsistencies, increases the engagement of users, and improves design outcomes.