Proposing a novel mixed-reality framework for basic design and its hybrid evaluation using linkography and interviews

Immersive Virtual Environments (IVEs), particularly Mixed-Reality (MR) technologies, continue to have an increasing impact on design processes and design education. This study focuses on MR’s potentials in Basic Design (BD) education and its influence on novice designers’ design thinking abilities. In this study, through a newly developed MR-based design framework, DesignMR, a comparative analysis between design processes in MR and the physical environment is presented. A hybrid evaluation methodology is used in the context of three-dimensional (3D) BD tasks through two sets of protocol studies: Linkography and exit interviews. Linkography is a method to analyze the design process based on detecting design moves and their links with each other. In this study, linkographic analyses point to an increase in critical moves and link index values in MR as compared to the physical environment for all participants. This indicates that MR can trigger improved creativity, design productivity, and design exploration by idea generation. Exit interviews highlighted the positive impact of DesignMR on the motivation, work efficiency, and 3D perception of the participants. Further research will be pursued for improved hand gestures to increase the effectiveness of object interaction.