CoDICE: balancing software engineering and creativity in the co-design of digital encounters with cultural heritage

Software engineering analysis and design methods are mainly guided by objective principles and criteria, whilst design thinking is usually fueled by subjective and people-based criteria like emotions, aesthetics or cultural and personal resonance. Complex interactive systems require a mixed approach where the benefits of both disciplines are respected: engineering and creativity, rationality and emotions, quality-centered and people-centered. This is the main purpose of a software tool, named CoDICE (COdesigning DIgital Cultural Encounters), that is being developed within the meSch EU project that is aimed at co-designing smart objects for enhanced encounters with cultural heritage. CoDICE adds persistence and traceability to the co-design activities and makes it possible to extend ideas discussion beyond collocated meetings. It also provides mechanisms to revisit design products and generate informed design rationale.