Innovation and design approaches within prospective ergonomics

Area of Science:

• Ergonomics
• Innovation Studies
• Design Science

Background:

• Design thinking is a human-centered innovation process.
• It emphasizes observation, collaboration, interpretation, visualization, prototyping, and business analysis.
• These elements influence innovation and business strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a roadmap for innovation.
• To integrate consumers, designers, and business people into an inclusive design process.
• To apply this process to product, service, and business design.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of "Prospective Ergonomics" within innovation, design thinking, and design processes.
• Development of a theoretical structure including innovation perspectives, worldviews (rationalist-historicist, empirical-idealistic dimensions), and models of design reasoning.
• Classification of existing methods and introduction of new ones.

Main Results:

• A conceptual framework for Prospective Ergonomics is presented.
• The article lays the groundwork for a roadmap integrating diverse stakeholders in design.
• Existing and novel design methods are discussed within this framework.

Conclusions:

• Prospective Ergonomics offers a structured approach to innovation.
• The proposed roadmap facilitates a more integrated and human-centered design process.
• This framework supports the development of innovative products, services, and businesses.