The Effect of Tangible User Interfaces on Cognitive Load in the Creative Design Process

The aim of the study is to investigate how Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) and Tangible User Interfaces (TUI) affect the creative design process in design education through cognitive load. A simple design problem was introduced to 30 design students in two groups. One group was provided with a TUI that was operationalized through a Desktop Augmented Reality Environment (AR) the other group was provided with a GUI that was operationalized through a Desktop Virtual Reality Environment (VR). After using the two systems the cognitive load of each interface was measure through the NASA TLX tool. Theories from cognitive psychology, information sciences, and design cognition were combined to provide an explanatory mechanism of how these media types affect the design process. The results indicate that epistemic action in TUI´s such as AR interfaces reduces cognitive load thereby reducing fixation in the design process and enhancing the creative design process.