Emerging tools for conceptual design: The use of game engines to design future user scenarios in the fuzzy front end of maritime innovation

This paper discusses and describes how simulated user scenarios can be created and used in the front end of maritime innovation processes. The paper introduces the use of game engines as design tool to create dynamic scenario environments that are used as means to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration between users and actors in a design process. The goal of the research was to see if it is possible to integrate realistic real-time simulations with user input in the conceptualization phases of innovation. The paper describes a micro case from the maritime industry that shows some of the complexity levels regarding the understanding of user scenarios in interdisciplinary design groups. The second case study reports on an ongoing development project where simulation has been used to explore crisis scenarios in the Oslo fjord. The results show that the use of design thinking and user involvement in combination with simulation tools can create a platform for an iterative process to develop complex user scenarios that drive conceptual innovation.