Extended Workspace Canvas for Multi-Canvas Product Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional design tools for electronic devices limit users by confining design elements within small canvases, making it difficult to visualize and manipulate product designs effectively, and require cumbersome steps to import and position graphic objects, leading to inefficiency and frustration.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an extended workspace canvas that allows design elements to be freely positioned within and beyond the boundaries of designable canvases, enabling seamless sharing and manipulation of data across multiple canvases, and maintaining the display of the extended workspace during canvas transitions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If design elements are confined within small canvases, then the structure is simple and manageable, but the user cannot effectively visualize and manipulate product designs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single confined canvas to a multi-canvas workspace arrangement, effectively adding spatial dimensions to the design environment. Multiple canvases can be positioned around the screen edge, creating an expanded two-dimensional workspace that allows users to visualize and manipulate design elements across a larger area without increasing interface complexity through modal dialogs or nested menus.
Solution Approach 2:
The design workspace is segmented into multiple independent canvases that can be individually manipulated and positioned. Each canvas can display different aspects of the product design, allowing users to work with multiple design elements simultaneously across separated but connected work areas, thereby expanding the effective workspace area while maintaining manageable organization.
2Ease of operation
If separate canvases are provided for front and back portions, then each portion can be designed independently, but the user cannot easily glean design elements across canvases and must alternate tabs frequently
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple canvases are merged into a single integrated workspace environment where design elements can be accessed and manipulated across canvas boundaries. The system combines the independence of separate canvases with the connectivity of a unified workspace, allowing users to drag and drop design elements between canvases without tab switching, thereby improving ease of operation while reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that allows design elements to be shared and accessed across multiple canvases. This intermediary system enables seamless transfer and visualization of design elements between different canvas areas, eliminating the need for users to switch tabs to access elements on different portions of the product design.
3Ease of manufacture
If a pane window is used to import graphic objects, then precise control over layer positioning is achieved, but the process requires multiple cumbersome steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cumbersome multi-step import process and replaces it with a direct drag-and-drop mechanism. Users can directly drag graphic objects from external sources or the file system onto the canvas, eliminating the need for pane windows, layer selection dialogs, and sequential import steps. This reduces the import process complexity while maintaining precise control over object placement through visual positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The import process is made self-service through intuitive drag-and-drop functionality. Users directly place graphic objects onto the canvas by dragging them from their source location, with the system automatically handling layer creation, positioning, and basic properties. This eliminates the need for manual configuration through multiple dialog steps, thereby easing the manufacturing process while reducing interface complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for facilitating product design by an electronic device are described. According to certain aspects, an electronic device may display one or more designable canvases of a user interface for editing the visual design of a product. The electronic device may display an extended workspace canvas adjacent to and at least partially surrounding the one or more designable canvases. The extended workspace canvas may be configured to display a plurality of design elements that can be reached directly from the one or more designable canvases for use. Each of the design elements may be configured to be selectively positioned within the one or more designable canvases. The electronic device may, in response to a surface change selection of the one or more designable canvases, maintain the displaying of the extended workspace canvas while the one or more designable canvases are in a transitioning state.