The Effects of a Tangible User Interface On designers ’ spatial cognition

A tangible user interface for designers changes the way in which the designers perceive and interact with a digital model. We studied the changes a specific tangible user interface has on designers’ spatial cognition through the comparison of designers using tangible user interface and graphical user interface environments. The results reveal that TUIs change designers’ spatial cognition, and then the changes in spatial cognition affect the design processes by increasing designers’ problem-finding behaviours leading to a creative design.