Designing a New Empathy-Oriented Prototyping Toolkit for the Design Thinking Process: Creativity and Design Sensibility

This study examined the effectiveness of a new empathy-oriented prototyping toolkit that was carefully developed to aid empathy gaining in students who find it difficult to express their ideas using only traditional paper-based prototyping materials. The toolkit has a simple structure and uses basic geometric three-dimensional forms made of various surface materials, such as rubber, wood, metal, acrylic and marble, which evoke distinct tactile sensations. The toolkit substitutes the items used in paper-based prototyping, such as construction paper, glue, scissors, paper cups and permanent markers, in the prototyping stage of the design thinking workshop process. Students’ thoughts are expressed in three-dimensional forms while they empathise with other students through conversation. The materials used are sophisticated, empathy-oriented and provide easy access to rapid prototyping. Herein, we (1) explain the components of the developed toolkit, (2) provide a specific curriculum guide, (3) show the results of student experimentation with the toolkit in the prototyping stage of the design thinking workshop process and (4) demonstrate the toolkit’s effectiveness by observing the students’ creations and statements. Open coding and selective coding were used to analyse the themes that emerged from the interviews by students who participated in the workshop. We argue that the new prototyping toolkit can significantly promote students’ creativity and design sensibility.