FLUX·3D is a tool for making possible to the people participating actively -and in a sustainable way- in the design of products, services and processes. This tool makes possible to approach a complex problem (such as the evaluation -in absolute and relative terms- of an innovation/prototype) in a simple and systematic way, which can be very helpful for making decisions (and defining future strategies) and/or improving the development of an innovation. FLUX·3D has been designed and developed by FUTURLAB - University of Alicante (Spain) together with Aalto University (Finland).

1. a joint initiative by

2. WHAT IS FLUX·3D
A productivity tool that allows to collect and compare
information about any kind of user experience
o The data gathered is relevant, thorough and systematic – yet the
process is simple, intuitively compelling, and requires no previous skills
from the user
o Results are displayed instantly through visuals – yet are also stored in
larger databases allowing for advanced analyses
o The tool combines insightful data generation with an ease of use
currently not found on the market

3. CUSTOMISABLE AND TESTED THROUGH DIFFERENT CASE STUDIES

4. BACKGROUND
o Created by Futurlab to assess the usability and market potential of a
new device for the geo-location of Alzheimer patients, the information
generated by Flux3D in that case led to the establishment of an
improved business model for the innovation.
o A case involving tourist perceptions of the city of Bilbao demonstrated
the generic applicability of the Flux3D methodology to the analysis of
user experiences for any range of products or services.
o Aalto University and Futurlab are now partnering to further test and
validate the methodology with Aalto’s flagship multi-disciplinary
courses in industry collaborations.
o The potential of the tool would best be met in the form of a mobile
software. Futurlab and Aalto are forming a team seeking to program
Flux 3D as an App.

5. WHAT IS FLUX·3D
MAIN FEATURES
• A highly flexible survey method based on a fractal data structure in 3
levels: 3 dimensions, 9 indicators, 27 variables measured through client
responses to 27 questions on a Likert scale  Data gathering is
simple, yet allows multiple and advanced comparisons, and an easy to
understand data visualization in 3D (cubes).
• A generic approach with customisation options that fits any question or
context related to user experience: It can be used to evaluate and
compare products, prototypes, services or processes and to differentiate
between market segments.
• The interface is simple enough for individual and recreational use – yet
the underlying methodology is potent enough for demanding professional
and business use.
• Allows to build longer term data banks and opportunities to share this
data between users through add-on services.
• Paper version has already been tested in real cases evaluating products
and services. Aalto University’s multi-disciplinary flagship programs will
further test and refine the methodology in 2013-2014.

6. HOW IT WORKS: STEP 2
THE COLLECTED DATA IS AUTOMATICALLY ORGANISED THROUGH AN
INTERCONNECTED FRAME - GENERATING AN INSIGHTFUL, NUANCED
AND HOLISTIC ANALYSIS OF THE CASE
3 DIMENSIONS
9 indicators
27 variables

7. HOW IT WORKS: STEP 3
THE RESULTS ARE DISPLAYED VISUALLY AS A CUBE WHOSE SHAPE
CHANGES ACCORDING TO THE LEVEL OF CLIENT APPROVAL
PARAMETERS OF
REFERENCE
(customisable)
The largest possible cube
represents perfect user
experience, reaching
maximum ratings on all
3 dimensions

8. THE GENERAL VIEW PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF RESULTS,
HIGHLIGHTING STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
GENERAL VIEW (all users)
13 CUBES

9. SELECTED VIEWS PROVIDE A VISUAL INTERPRETATION ACCORDING
TO CHOSEN TOPICS OR MARKET SEGMENTS
SEGMENT #1 (i.e. males)
13 x N CUBES
N = number of segments
considered

10. SELECTED VIEWS PROVIDE A VISUAL INTERPRETATION ACCORDING
TO CHOSEN TOPICS OR MARKET SEGMENTS
SEGMENT #2 (i.e. females)
13 x N CUBES
N = number of segments
considered

11. COMPARISONS CAN BE MADE ON THE FULL PICTURE,
INSTEAD OF ONLY ISSUE BY ISSUE
SEGMENTS COMPARISON
All users
Men
Women

12. ADVANTAGES OF THE FLUX 3D TOOL
GETTING THE BEST USER FEEDBACK:
•
•
•
•
•
•
27 key questions: People tell you what you need to know (getting
relevant, quality answers without boring your clients)
The format guides you throughout the process - You don’t need to reinvent
the wheel and come up with new questions each time
The overview is thorough - you don’t miss out on key information
Results are gathered in databases - You can compare, compile and present
your results instantly and intuitively in flexible ways
The feedback you get is robust and useful for the further development of
your product/service
Your data is not disposable after a single use – it adds up and retains value

13. THE SOFTWARE INTERFACE ELIMINATES THE NEED TO DEAL WITH
LABORIOUS TOOLS FOR DATA ANALYSIS
3 dimensions, 9 indicators
& 27 variables…
FOR EVERY USER

14. CLEAR VALUE ADDED RELATED TO OTHER CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
TOOLS IN THE MARKET
o Existing customer feedback tools such as: Survey Monkey, Idea
Campaign, Poll Daddy, eSurveysPro, SurveyGizmo, User
Voice, Opinionlab, IdeaScale, iSuggest
 These provide a template and polls that clients have to
customize for their specific user feedback needs. Response data
is collected automatically into spreadsheets, and the results can
be visualized through excel-type programs. Others serve as
simple voting and feedback tools (iSuggest).
 However, there is no tool on the market that would:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Offer a ready-made feedback template that is both qualitatively robust and
relevant to most cases.
Enable easy comparisons between different products/cases.
Provide instant visual representations on the full scope of the results (the
cube), instead of separate graphs for separate questions.
Allow for comparative analyses on larger data sets.

15. TEAM EXPERTISE
FUTURLAB is a research unit composed by members of the Department of
Sociology (University of Alicante, Spain). Main research fields:
Futures Research · Polls · Market Research · Design thinking ·
Open Innovation · Participatory Foresight · User Experience ·
AALTO UNIVERSITY is a leading research university in design
thinking, user-based innovation and multi-disciplinary collaborations
bringing together design, business and technology.
Aalto Global Impact is a platform that promotes and supports the societal
impact of Aalto’s teaching and research.