DIGITALIZED M METHOD SYSTEM BASED ON MULTISPACE DESIGN MODEL

Abstract

Recently, as artifacts become massive and more complex, designing requires both "unrestricted thinking" and "rational thinking." The M method, which is a generic name for design methods that use the multispace design model, enables these two types of thinking. Previous research has identified the need as well as approaches to improve the M-BAR (brainstorming, affinity diagram, and relation diagram), an M method that has been applied to a variety of designs. This study thus develops an M method system that digitalizes the M-BAR according to the improvement approaches. Moreover, it confirms the usefulness of the system and improvement points and conducts an evaluation experiment (workshop) using the M-BAR and M method system. The results reveal that this system enables us to engage in "unrestricted thinking" and "rational thinking."