Short answer
Designers of digital tools should consider how to facilitate the connection between information resources and the designer's overarching creative objectives.
- Field
- Innovation & Design
- Source
- Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology (2018)
- Method
- Qualitative research using Critical Incident Technique interviews.
- Sample
- 10 game designers
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Game designers' information acquisition and use is significantly shaped by their overarching intellectual goals for ideation, rather than just immediate task requirements. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2018 study published in Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology. Using Qualitative research using critical incident technique interviews. with 10 game designers, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers of digital tools should consider how to facilitate the connection between information resources and the designer's overarching creative objectives.
Intellectual Purpose Drives Information-Based Ideation in Game Design
Game designers' information acquisition and use is significantly shaped by their overarching intellectual goals for ideation, rather than just immediate task requirements.
Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology · 2018
Key Findings
- 01Game designers' information seeking is driven by a desire to achieve specific intellectual outcomes related to ideation.
- 02The context of intellectual purpose provides a framework for understanding the acquisition and use of information in creative processes.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers of digital tools should consider how to facilitate the connection between information resources and the designer's overarching creative objectives.
How to apply
When designing a new software tool or information platform for creative professionals, consider how it can help users achieve their ultimate creative vision, not just perform discrete actions.
Project actions
- 01When researching user needs, ask 'why' they need information, not just 'what' information they need.
- 02Consider the long-term creative goals of your users when designing features.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a novel perspective on information behavior by focusing on intellectual purpose.
- +Uses a qualitative method well-suited for exploring complex cognitive processes.
Limitations
This study focused on game designers; findings might differ for designers in other fields. The sample size was small.
Reliability & validity
The qualitative nature of the study provides rich insights but may have limited generalizability. Triangulation of data (if other methods were used) would enhance validity.
Think critically
How might the 'intellectual purpose' of a user differ across various design disciplines, and how would this impact the design of information systems?
Design Principles
"Information systems should be designed to support the user's intellectual purpose, fostering deeper engagement and more effective creative outcomes."
Understanding the 'why' behind information seeking, at a higher conceptual level, is crucial for designing effective digital environments. This perspective can lead to more intuitive and supportive tools that foster creativity and innovation.
What This Means for Your Design
This study shows that when designers look for information, they're often thinking about a big creative idea they want to achieve, not just the immediate step they need to take.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify design decisions that aim to support higher-level creative thinking, rather than just basic functionality.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
Research indicates that designers' information-based ideation is significantly influenced by their overarching intellectual purpose, suggesting that design tools and systems should be developed to support these higher-order creative goals, rather than solely focusing on immediate task completion.
Source
Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology
Ideation as an Intellectual Information Acquisition and Use Context: Investigating Game Designers' Information‐Based Ideation Behavior
journal · 2018
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about intellectual purpose drives information-based ideation in game design?
- Designers of digital tools should consider how to facilitate the connection between information resources and the designer's overarching creative objectives. Evidence: Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology (2018).
- Why does "Intellectual Purpose Drives Information-Based Ideation in Game Design" matter for design?
- Understanding the 'why' behind information seeking, at a higher conceptual level, is crucial for designing effective digital environments. This perspective can lead to more intuitive and supportive tools that foster creativity and innovation.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers of digital tools should consider how to facilitate the connection between information resources and the designer's overarching creative objectives.
- What were the main findings?
- Game designers' information seeking is driven by a desire to achieve specific intellectual outcomes related to ideation.. The context of intellectual purpose provides a framework for understanding the acquisition and use of information in creative processes.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative research using Critical Incident Technique interviews. with 10 game designers.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2018 journal from Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing a new software tool or information platform for creative professionals, consider how it can help users achieve their ultimate creative vision, not just perform discrete actions.
- What are the limitations?
- The findings are specific to game designers and may not generalize to all creative fields. The Critical Incident Technique relies on retrospective accounts, which can be subject to recall bias.