ABSTRACT
How can we design engine rooms that cater to the needs of their human operators? How can we do this in a design process that involves multiple companies and competences? We report on a design case where we facilitated a human-centered, collaborative design process crossing two companies. We present the methods used and the challenges experienced at each step of the process. We discuss what this process might enable for the designers, the engine room, and the ship crew. Based on our analysis, we argue that there is a need to (1) facilitate the collaboration between the companies involved, (2) collect qualitative data about the needs of the ship crews on board ships during operation, and (3) define the engine room as a human-centered working environment where the needs of human operators can be catered to. We argue that this process opens innovation venues by assisting collaborating companies in focusing on human-centered design solutions crossing the boundaries of their businesses, traditional roles and responsibilities.
