Design Behind Interaction: Interfaces, Technology, Meanings

Digital transformation and technological innovations are fundamentally reshaping our perception and interaction with our surroundings, often prompting a revision of established design paradigms. This book explores how such advancements are affecting interactions, with experiences that unfold at the intersection of meanings, interfaces, and technology. It frames the current landscape, providing an overview of contemporary experimental approaches towards integrating interfaces into smart objects seamlessly. Some explorations even question the very concept of interfaces, moving towards their progressive disappearance and integration into products. Within this context, the university spin-off Thingk engages in technology transfer, designing products that appear analog but are actually augmented with technology, incorporating multidisciplinary perspectives from product design, communication, and interaction design. The book examines Thingk’s work in experimenting with embedded interfaces. Spanning an eight-year journey of experimental design and analysis, the discussion offers an in-depth exploration of how theoretical design research is applied in designing smart objects, leveraging context-awareness and situated meanings to the point of questioning and redefining some conventional design concepts in terms of user interaction. Consequently, the significance of this book lies in its comprehensive analysis and insights into the design process behind such objects, underscoring the need for thorough examination of how semantic reconfigurations impact on affordances and agency. In this discourse, users play a crucial role: from user research, co-creation and crowdfunding to validation, their engagement ensures that the development of smart objects and their interfaces is deeply informed by real-world application. Rooted in a research-through-design approach along with the discussion of relevant cases, this study aims to bridge the gap between theoretical exploration and practical application. Thus, not only contributing to a deeper understanding of current experimentations of interfaces and smart technology but also showcasing the rich potential of design-driven innovation in shaping future user experiences.