Using 'endowed props' in scenario-based design
Steve Howard, Jennie Carroll, John M. Murphy, Jane Peck · 2002
We have developed a form of scenario-based design that aims to increase stakeholders' sense of 'immersion' in the happenings and situations depicted in the scenarios. In our approach, scenarios are 'acted out' by actors and/or candidate users during participatory design sessions, rather than being 'walked through' by designers and users. In form, our scenarios are bare and malleable and load on the context of use more than the activities and objectives of the candidate users. In usage, our scenarios play a role similar to stage directions in theatrical performance. Props are a vital accompaniment to such scenarios. Props focus the attention of the design team and stakeholders during participatory design sessions and this paper describes their form and usage.