NCBDS conference

The paper “Designing the Future of Retail: Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration in Industrial Design and Architecture Design” has been accepted at the 40th National Conference on Begining Design Students. North Carolina State University. Raleigh, NC. 2025

Yong-Gyun Ghim, Ming Tang, University of Cincinnati

 

Abstract

The significance of design’s cross-disciplinary nature has increased alongside technological advancements as emerging technologies present new opportunities and challenges for complex socio-technical systems. Systems thinking has drawn attention to design as a holistic approach to tackling complex systems by examining the interrelationships between elements. This also necessitates cross-disciplinary collaboration to address the multifaceted nature of the problems comprehensively. These aspects of systems thinking further emphasize its importance in design education to help navigate the current era of technological innovation. The future of retail exemplifies this interconnected complexity in the context of emerging technologies because introducing them – such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and mixed reality – into retail environments requires a holistic consideration of the entire system, encompassing physical spaces, service processes, and human interactions.

This study examines a 15-week collaborative studio project between industrial design and architecture. By leveraging a systems thinking approach, the project facilitated cross-disciplinary collaboration to develop future retail concepts, enabling students to integrate their expertise and address the interconnectedness of artifacts, environments, and human interactions. Both disciplines followed a structured design process encompassing research, system design, space and robot design, visualization, and validation, while collaboration was organized around four key steps: planning, learning, prototyping, and communication. The project also involved collaboration with a supermarket chain, providing opportunities for onsite observations, employee interviews, and discussions with industry professionals. Students developed futuristic concepts for retail operations and customer experiences by leveraging the integration of mobile service robots, adaptive spaces, and mixed reality. Industrial design students focused on designing a product-service system of supermarket robots based on their redefinition of customer shopping experience and employee workflow, proposing an automated grocery order fulfillment system. Architecture students designed adaptive retail spaces that seamlessly blur the boundaries between physical and digital worlds, exploring how the Metaverse and mixed-reality interfaces can augment retail spaces and shopping experiences through dynamic, immersive interactions with digital avatars and robots. This cross-disciplinary collaboration resulted in holistic and integrative solutions for complex systems, presented through immersive VR experiences or animated scenarios.

This study’s contribution to design education is threefold. First, it proposes a systems thinking approach with cross-disciplinary collaboration for designing future retail experiences, demonstrating its effectiveness in addressing and designing complex socio-technical systems. Second, it offers insights into how industrial design and architecture can be integrated to create novel user experiences in digital transformation. Lastly, by examining the design and collaboration processes and reflecting on the opportunities and challenges, this study offers insights for its application to future studio courses. Given the increased complexity and dynamics between disciplines, thorough pre-planning and flexibility are critical for success.

Keywords:

Cross-disciplinary collaboration, Design education, Industrial design, Architecture, Future of retail

Project:  Future Service, Retail, Metaverse, and Robotics

 

Redefining Space in the Age of Spatial Computing

ARCH 4001. Fall. 2024

Redefining Space in the Age of Spatial Computing 

Ming Tang
Professor, Registered Architect, NCARB, LEED AP, Director of Extended Reality Lab. UC Digital Futures. Leadership committee, Institute for Research in Sensing (IRiS);
School of Architecture and Interior Design, College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, University of Cincinnati

In the age of spatial computing, architecture transcends the physical boundaries of bricks and mortar, evolving into an expansive realm that merges computational technologies. This studio embraces the transformative potential of AI in the architectural design process, expanding physical spaces into the metaverse and positioning architecture at the forefront of our society’s digital revolution. By serving as a platform for spatial experience, architecture redefines our interaction with space and each other. 

This studio invites students to collectively harness the power of AI to create virtual architectural spaces that inspire, connect, and elevate the human spatial experience. Students design a convention center to host various activities, from large conference events like SIGGRAPH and trade shows like CES to small lectures and social events. They research the spatial layout of a convention center and explore the possibilities of migrating these activities to a fully 3D virtual space in the metaverse. The studio also explores the intersections of AI, digital twin, and XR technologies with the metaverse, enabling students to push the boundaries of traditional architectural design. Through this exploration, students gain insights into how digital advancements can enhance and transform spatial experiences, fostering innovation and creativity in the architectural field.

 

Read more

AE studio 2024

AE Studio 3004, Restaurant Design

 

Spring 2024. Instructors: Ming Tang, Samira Sarabandikachyani

This studio serves as a comprehensive introduction to designing a building. 

Honors Seminar student projects

“Human-Computer Interaction in the Age of Extended Reality & Metaverse” student projects

Spring. 2024.  UC

Under the guidance of Ming Tang, Director of the XR-Lab at Digital Futures and DAAP, UC, this honors seminar course has propelled students through an immersive journey into the realm of XR. The course encompasses Extended Reality, Metaverse, and Digital Twin technologies, providing a comprehensive platform for theoretical exploration and practical application in XR development.

The coursework showcases an array of student-led research projects that investigate the role of XR in various domains, including medical training, flight simulation, entertainment, tourism, cultural awareness, fitness, and music. Through these projects, students have had the opportunity to not only grasp the intricate theories underpinning future HCI developments but also to apply their skills in creating immersive experiences that hint at the future of human-technology interaction.

 

 “Human-Computer Interaction in the Age of Extended Reality & Metaverse” is a UC Honors course that delves into the burgeoning field of extended reality (XR) and its confluence with human-computer interaction (HCI), embodying a fusion of scholarly inquiry and innovative practice.

Ming Tang, Professor, Director of XR-Lab, DAAP, University of Cincinnati

Students: Nishanth Chidambaram, Bao Huynh, Caroline McCarthy, Cameron Moreland, Frank Mularcik, Cooper Pflaum, Triet Pham, Brooke Stephenson, Pranav Venkataraman

Thanks for the support from the UC Honors Program and UC Digital Futures.