1. Representation Techniques
Design
Sustainability
Nicola Morelli

2. Blueprinting PSS
A blueprint is the definitive
drawing of an
object/architecture,
containing all the
indications for producers
to reproduce the object
according to the
designers’ intentions
Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 2

3. Codification
Codification Decodification
Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 3

4. Technical codification
Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 4

5. Customer’s involvement
• If the customer is co-creating
the value, s/he has to be
supported by an adequate
communication system
• We cannot suppose the
customer to be familiar with the
most common technical
language used in blueprints
Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 5

6. codification
Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 6

7. Different levels of codification
Representations communicate
contents with different levels of
abstraction and codification
Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 7

8. Blueprinting PSS
• While there are standard techniques for
technical representation of objects in
different levels of detail, there are no
standard representation techniques for
blueprinting PSS
• Blueprints for PSS should reach different
kinds of people, from “hard” technicians
(e.g. engineers) to final users
• Blueprints should communicate different
things (conditions, instructions,
components) according to the “receiver”
– Traditional “hard” technician will understand
highly codified representations
– Final users are not supposed to be familiar with
any form of communications, although their role
in a PSS may be fundamental
Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 8

9. Blueprinting = representing
• Time
• Logical links/interactions
• Sequence of events
• Spaces and their qualities
• Movements between spaces
• Actors performing an action
• Visible and invisible processes
• Front office/back office
• Objects/components
• Interaction of objects/components in
the system
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10. Representing what? Why? Who for?
• What?
– Entity/system
– Objective/subjective
• What for?
– Analysis/design
– Sketch/define
• Whom for?
– Technical/user
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11. Different views
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12. The front view
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13. System maps (colloquial)
Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 13

14. System maps (colloquial)
Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 14

15. System maps
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16. Generating system maps
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17. Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 17

18. Functions and capabilities
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19. Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 19

20. Interaction and time
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21. Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 21

22. Blueprinting: existing methods
Source ShostackDesign & Sustainability
Nicola Morelli
1982 22

23. Blueprinting: existing methods
Time
Logical links/interactions
Sequence of events
Spaces and their qualities
Movements between spaces
Actors performing an action
Visible and invisible processes
Front office/back office
Source ShostackDesign & Sustainability
Nicola Morelli
1982
Objects/components
system 23
Interaction of objects/components in the

24. Blueprinting: existing methods
Source Ramaswami 1996
Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 24

25. Blueprinting: existing methods
Time
Logical links/interactions
Sequence of events
Spaces and their qualities
Movements between spaces
Actors performing an action
Visible and invisible processes
Front office/back office
Source Ramaswami 1996
Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability
Objects/components
system 25
Interaction of objects/components in the

26. Use case graphic representation
Automated
Processes implying physical operation
movement
The system
gets ready
for the
Processes performed by Human and/or automated
next user
the service operator operations
Processes performed by
the user
The system
verifies John’s
identity and gives
him access to the
Virtual environment
software
The recep.ist The The rec.ist John John
John welcomes recep.ist introduces John to John is
logs in Works on
guided to
enters John informs John the room assistant
the
his CV
workstation
The system
John’s John The billing John goes John John saves John’s
John
membership card pays the person processes to pay the logs saves work in his
walks is updated the bill directory
bill bill out hi work
away
Entrance/reception Working
environment The system
saves John’s
settings
Front
office
26
office
Back
Billing system The room
The accounting
Space and System back assistant runs the
system Technical
facilities up software to clean
registers the Maintenance
maintenance up the computer
payment and upgrade
Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability

27. Use case graphic representation
Time
Logical links/interactions
Sequence of events
Spaces and their qualities
Movements between spaces
Actors performing an action
Visible and invisible processes
Front office/back office
Objects/components
Interaction of objects/components in the
system
Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 27

28. Existing methods: pert chart
A japanese
restaurant
Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 28

29. Example: a Japanese take-away
(Nicola Morelli)
Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 29

30. Colloquial language
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31. Use Cases/storyboards
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32. Video Sketching
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33. Scenario building and sketching
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34. Representation as a tool
• Scenarios facilitate
convergences of different views
by stimulating strategic
conversation between actors
with different views
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35. Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 35