Enhancing creativity with domain-specific design heuristics for digital product innovation

Abstract

A key challenge for product designers is the generation of creative ideas that meet the functional and usability requirements of clients and users. This challenge has been further compounded by the opportunities arising from the integration of digital technologies. To enhance creativity in design practice, we proposed a domain-specific DHS, supported by a novel framework, to specifically aid the concept generation phase. Using this framework, DHS10 was developed specifically for digital innovation, based on the analysis of 583 award-winning concept designs in the field of digital innovation. An empirical evaluation study investigated the effectiveness and advantages of this tool. The findings suggest that DHS10 can serve as an effective ideation tool, helping design students generate a higher number of innovative and diverse concepts for digital innovation while reducing design fixation.