PSS-101
Methods for Conceptualizing Product Service Networks (PSS 101) was about developing a framework of methods, techniques and tools that improves conceptualization and communication between all those involved in design and development, across industries.Products are no longer just products, Services not only services. Take Océ; once they used to sell printers.. and now they ‘support document management across different departments.’ Exact, well known for its Financial and Administrative software, now produces business service systems for SMEs, enabling them to integrally support and manage their business, including relationship management.
This type of thinking requires new design and development structures, moving people out of their traditional compartments, meeting the needs of an often diverse and evolving group of end-users. Product Service Systems (PSS) are designed in highly dynamic network environments, mixing people and parties, models, interests and goals.
What questions were answered?
Teams from TU Delft, the Design Academy Eindhoven and Industry partners were working together to answer the questions:
What are the demands that networks of users impose on providers of PSS?
How can the provider cope with the organizational changes needed?
In which way can networks of Creative industries facilitate this process?
What have the teams achieved?
A Framework and Toolset that will help design-partners better understand the needs, values and ambitions of end-users in their networks. Together they have formulated a shared vision for a PSS proposition, leading to a documented, context-driven PSS concept.
Timeframe and communication:
PSS 101 startedin 2011 and finished in 2015. Throughout the project, we have communicate information and results via this website, Master Classes, and Workshops. We have organized an annual event for the creative industries, and integrated our findings into educational programmes.
Who was involved?
Scientific partners: Delft University of Technology and the Design Academy Eindhoven;
Creative and Industry partners: STBY, 4C-MG, Exact, Oce industries and Zuidzorg
Project leaders
Dr. Ingrid Mulder, Delft University of Technology
Prof. Dr. Pieter Jan Stappers, Delft University of Technology
publications
SuperMaker
The Super-Maker project was set up to explore the new 2.5D printing technology of Océ, A Canon company. The aim was to investigate how the creative industries in general could contribute to determining new applications and markets for this innovative technology.The basis of the research was that to print in 2.5D, the technology itself is so advanced that a simple user manual doesn’t suffice in covering its complexity. Furthermore, when faced with an endless number of possibilities (as is the case with most 3D fabrication technology), the ideation process for clients presents an even greater challenge. Therefore – even for creative professionals – it has proven to be difficult knowing where to begin with implementing and creating new ideas for how to use this technology. How, instead, can the technology be more easily understood and used by clients, and how can clients be facilitated in creating their own ideas and concepts for this sort of printing?
Together with the partner company Océ, A Canon company, the main research question was the role the creative industries can play in determining new applications of 2.5D printing. As an outcome, together with the research team, Karianne Rygh have developed ‘Super-Maker’, a workshop methodology to better connect a new technology to the client or end user operating it, as a means to also create a more participatory stakeholder network.