Evoking Imagination

Exploring the role of imagination in the perception of objects

Master thesis (2018)

Authors

T. Stamhuis Industrial Design Engineering

Contributors

R. Bendor (graduation committee member)
P.J. Stappers (mentor)
Faculty
Industrial Design Engineering, Industrial Design Engineering
Copyright: © 2018 Tjeerd Stamhuis
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Published Date

16-10-2018

Language

English

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Faculty

Industrial Design Engineering

Abstract

The research in this thesis is done to discover what elements play a role in evoking imagination.
A framework is constituted with the elements familiarity and instructions that are believed to play a role in evoking imagination. The elements are discussed through a literature research and the exploration of objects fitting in the framework. Eventually via a design experiment the influence of familiarity and instructions on imagination is tested.
The outcome of the design experiment exposed that familiarity of objects is evoking imagination in their understanding of their purpose. And the ‘script’, instructions 'inscribed' in objects is providing or limiting space for multiple interpretations. Creating a space for possibilities.
The understanding in how to evoke imagination is helpful to interaction design, because it can challenge our conceptions of how to challenge the user in their interaction with object and the constitution of meaning.