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Article published In: Information Design Journal
Vol. 29:3 (2024) ► pp.264–288

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From physical material samples to design-relevant tags

Using research through design (RTD) to generate prioritized information specifications

ORCiD logo with link | University of LiverpoolLiverpool
ORCiD logo with link | Middle East Technical UniversityAnkara
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Available under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 license.

For any use beyond this license, please contact the publisher at rights@benjamins.nl.

Open Access publication of this article was funded through a Transformative Agreement with University of Liverpool.

Published online: 18 August 2025
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https://doi.org/10.1075/idj.24014.aki
Abstract
This research investigates design-relevant information to accompany physical material samples, addressing a gap in educational product/industrial design practice and materials library usage. Implementing Research Through Design (RTD), existing information solutions are surveyed (Stage 1); ten material information tag ‘research artefacts’ are generated (Stage 2); and artefact evaluations are carried out by 38 undergraduates, leading to a Design Specification Master List (Stage 3). A finalized tag is designed based on the research findings. The study contributes knowledge on the content and presentation of materials information, demonstrates a systematic approach to evaluating research artefacts within an RTD framework, and discusses its applicability across conventional and emerging material contexts and practices.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Physical material samples, libraries, and knowledge acquisition
  • 2.Methodology
  • 3.Review of design-relevant material information
    • 3.1Materials and engineering
    • 3.2Materials and industrial/product design
    • 3.3Intrinsic and extrinsic material properties
  • 4.RTD Stage 1: Surveying existing solutions
    • 4.1From the literature
    • 4.2From material libraries
  • 5.RTD Stage 2: Designing and creating research artefacts
  • 6.RTD Stage 3: Evaluating research artefacts and defining design specifications
    • 6.1Likert scale data analysis
    • 6.2Free text data analysis and design specifications
      • 6.2.1Informative
      • 6.2.2Understandable
      • 6.2.3Relevant
      • 6.2.4Attractive
      • 6.2.5Inspirational
      • 6.2.6Usable
  • 7.Information design solution
    • 7.1Ideation and wireframing
    • 7.2Alpha and beta prototypes
  • 8.Conclusions and future work
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
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