Facets. A toolkit to start conversations about connected things with our clients : How can designers make the Internet of Things more tangible

Abstract: The Internet of Things (IoT) is about connectedness between people and artefacts surrounding them. It is also about the transition between the physical and the digital when interacting with those artefacts. Adding a digital layer allows us to pair static artefacts (like products) with dynamic experiences (like services). This opens up for countless opportunities for product-service systems that help people in completely new ways. As a development of the internet IoT is a techno-social phenomenon that has the potential to reveal and help to solve large-scale problems that are created by our connected lifestyle. More companies than ever are creating connected product-service systems mostly to disrupt the market. This inspires people across companies from R&D to CEO level to explore the new market sector. However it is difficult to talk about abstract connections between things and user experiences that don’t exist yet.  FACETS is designed to be a supporting tool for the design and innovation consultancy Veryday and other designers to approach the topic of IoT together with their (to be) client. The toolkit consists of four box-like modules to be used in different phases of a client meeting. Here the toolkit in a nutshell: 0. Prepare to Convince Change the look and feel of the tools to help you tell a story about connected products during the meeting with the client.  1. Inspire Stories Use the character boxes to inspire the client. The two modules communicate with each other to create a magical experience of connected objects.  2. Bridge to the client’s Context Once getting excited about the behavior of the modules the client might wonder how this could be useful for their product or service offering. The clip-on output module can be attached to any object to bridge between the toolkit and the client’s context. 3. Co-Create Scenarios  A pre-defined behavior of the modules is not useful during meetings that are dynamic by nature. That’s why the action trigger module in combination with an app is used to quickly generate new scenarios on the fly.