Abstract:

This proposal addresses the conference theme “Envisioning Design for the XXI Century” with a focus
on the challenges for the future of industrial design through discussion on the impacts of technology
on the discipline. A goal for this paper is to explore general issues related to the influences of
technology on industrial design through a specific discussion of a case study that investigates the
design of products within a trading floor environment. This case study showcases the results of a
collaborative effort between one Universities Industrial Design program and the Chicago Mercantile
Exchange’s (CME) Center for Innovation (CFI). This year long design studio course involved the
collaboration of a unique set of participants – a university-based Industrial Design program, graphic
design students, a prominent local industry, prominent local design professionals as critics (Motorola
designers), and computer science consultancy for technology consultation. This studio effort touches
on several of the conference categories, specifically design innovation (design and problem solving,
design conception) and design research (design and information technologies, contemporary design
issues).
The research was performed during the Fall 2004 semester, which included gathering information on
the history of trading artifacts, a demographic analysis of traders, current trading artifacts (what is
used to trade with today), an analysis of work processes (differences between electronic and physical
trading), and emerging technologies research. Research methods used included interviews, online
searches, contextual inquiry, and photography. The Spring 2005 semester was spent designing and
prototyping the products.