Exploring Creative Imagination: Mapping the Progression of Metamorphic Gestures through an Ambiguous Tactile Interface

Abstract

This study investigates the flow of imagination in design practice through an ambiguous tactile interface that is intended to work as a catalyst for creative inspiration. Using a phenomenological lens and theoretical frameworks from Vygotsky's conception of imagination as cognitive process, Dewey's experiential learning theory, and Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology of perception and embodiment, this research evaluates the effectiveness of ambiguous tangible input. This type of ambiguous input aims to invite designers to linger in their imaginative flow through unstructured playful interaction, particularly focusing on pareidolia with digital visual stimuli. Through semi-structured interviews with 20 designers, we use phenomenological analysis to interpret and examine their lived experiences during the ambiguous interaction. The aim of this study is to advance the understanding of sustained immersion in inner imagination in the context of creativity in the design process.