Patterns of Designer-User Interactions in the Design Innovation Process

In previous research, human-centered interaction patterns and protocols have not been documented adequately in IS design and innovation research; therefore, this paper empirically explores designer-user interaction patterns in the design innovation process. To do this, we believe that designer-user interaction will function as the core action in discovering design requirements and validating the design problems and solutions by understanding users and their information in IS. With this view on designer-user interaction, we ask the following research question--what do interactions between designers and users characterize distinctive patterns in the design innovation process? As an empirical approach, this study analyzed thirty two digital innovation project narratives and synthesized four designer-user interaction patterns, which demonstrate nine sub-patterns. The significance of this study is to theorize the patterns of designer-user interaction and suggests a theoretical / practical guideline for researchers and practitioners in the community of the three innovation research communities.