A Spatial Informance Design Method to Elicit Early Interface Prototypes for Augmented Reality

Designing for augmented reality (AR) applications is difficult and expensive. A rapid system for the early design process of spatial interfaces is required. Previous research has used video for mobile AR design, but this is not extensible to head-mounted AR. AR is an emergent technology with no prior design precedent, requiring designers to allow free speculation or risk the pitfalls of “path dependence.” In this ar ticle, a par ticipatory elicitation method we call “spatial informance design” is presented. We found combining “informance design,” “Wizard of Oz,” improvisation, and “paper proto-typing,” to be a fast and lightweight solution for ideation of rich designs for spatial interfaces. A study using our method with 11 par ticipants, produced similar and wildly different interface configurations and interactions for an augmented reality email application. Based on our findings, we propose design implications and an evaluation of oumethod using spatial informance for the design of head-mounted AR applications. © 2022 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.