Comparing Analog and Digital Tools for Collaborative Design Ideation

This paper examines how digital or analog tools influences the creative design process and outcome in collaborative design ideation. In this study, the particular digital tool is a prototype developed in collaboration with a global design firm, and is intended to be the digital counterpart to pen, paper, sticky-notes, and whiteboards, which are commonly used for collaborative creative activities. We conducted a pre-registered study with 24 designers in eight teams, analyzing the creative outcome in terms of four dependent variables and subsequently the process that lead to the outcome. The findings do not indicate differences between the two setups in relation to the outcome, however changes to the process in terms of collaboration and creativity were observed. Most significantly, the digital tool resulted in fewer initial ideas, but a higher degree of elaboration on ideas. We discuss the implications of these findings for the use and development of tools to support collaborative design creativity.