Hi! I am a UX designer & architect. Design research excites me because it holds me accountable for what I create and challenges me to use my knowledge, awareness and heightened sensitivity to the world to improve shared experiences for everyone.
The use of Augmented Reality (AR) in urban design processes is a relatively under-researched area. With technological advancements, it is critical to understand how emerging technology, such as AR, could be integrated into urban planning processes and how it could be used to boost participation and civic engagement.
The aim of the research was to understand how co-design workshops can be conducted to inform the design of Augmented Reality (AR) applications and the impact of AR on user’s level of satisfaction in terms of usability and behavioural intention and subsequent effect on civic engagement.
The prototype development stage followed the Design Thinking approach. Design Thinking is a continuous, iterative process that is used to understand users, challenge assumptions, redefine problems and create innovative solutions to prototype and test. It integrates multiple viewpoints and corresponds user’s needs to what is feasible and viable, combining analytical and intuitive thinking to produce unique ideas that present market opportunities.
The co-design workshop was conducted to gain insights from citizens to inform the design of the application. Collaboration with stakeholders is essential for gaining broader perspectives on a problem and identifying potential needs. These needs can be integrated into the decision-making process either directly through stakeholder involvement or indirectly through empathetic sense making activities. The Co-design workshop was conducted based on previous research and had three phases: Prioritisation, Ideation, and Validation.
To design the navigation and visual guides, different iterations of arrows were used, similar to the ones ideated during the co-design workshop. There were two types of navigation arrows which were used in the prototype. After user testing, it was found that arrows which were parallel to the horizontal surface were more effective in navigating users. User is guided towards interactive elements with visual cues to signify proximity. Through iteration, it was found that pop- ups with a white background were more effective in readability.
This study suggests that AR should be used to engage citizens in urban planning, and this should be explored further in future research. Since AR systems have the potential to increase understanding and engagement, it should be developed as tools for citizens in urban planning. This study recommends that AR systems when designed for urban design purposes must provide contextual information, consistency in the display of information and clear feedback of task completion.
With over five years of architectural training, I gained a deeper understanding of how design influences individuals, communities, and urban spaces. During my time as an architect, I collaborated with various designers in both the public and private sectors, witnessing firsthand how design interventions affect people. My transition to UX design in the past year was driven by my passion for research, particularly in civic design and projects with social impact.
This masters course has helped me hone my skills as a UX designer, conduct research in a professional and ethical manner and taught me how to plan, design and carry out a research project successfully by implementing various research methodologies.
