3.11 Heuristic Plan of Action

Heuristic, generally means to point out areas for further investigation.

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Enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves.

Our use will be to encourage the designer to learn, discover, understand or solve problems by experimenting, evaluating possible answers or solutions and may include trial and error methods.

The chart can be used anywhere in the design process.

The chart can be adapted as needed to provide the appropriate information.

The chart is constructed with a series of phrases related to the use of the product.

These phrases are located vertically, and the six heuristic questions are located horizontally.

Th phrases are derived from observation, interviews, questionnaires and surveys.

In addition, phrases can be derived from the Sequence of Use and Flow Chart.

The basic six heuristic questions are:

Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
How?

e.g. Stapler - Designing a device for attaching sheets of paper together.

Who: The device will be used primarily by clerical workers, students, and home office users.

What: The device should be designed to attached paper together with the ability to allow an individual sheet of paper to be viewed.

The number of paper to be attached will be determined by the paper thickness.

When: The device should be portable or have the ability to move to a designated work space. The stability of the device should be considered.

Where: The device should attach the sheets of paper at any of the four corners of the paper.

In addition, the sheets of paper should be able to be attached along one edge.

The device should be able to be used on a flat surface or handheld.

Why: In some cases multiple sheets of paper need to be attached.

Consider that there may be a need to detach the paper, so the material used to attach the paper will need to be removable.

How: The device will dispense or release a material that will attach the paper.

Heuristic Plan of Action Example: