Abstract
This paper extends design and systems literature by evaluating issues in methodology and practice that maintain learning on an individual context and doesn´t allow an improvement of the whole system. The problem that has initiated this research is that it seems difficult for those engaged in a design process to reflect upon their own point of view in relation to other participants´ perspectives to identify the whole situation´s meaning. The idea of this research is to critically examine, from a practical design perspective, the framework of Critical-Systems-Heuristics (CSH) W. Ulrich, by taking previous critiques carried out and practical aspects derived from a case study under consideration. The purpose of this study is to identify issues of the current CSH-framework and to propose practical aspects to improve the same for civil engagement. In order to fulfill this purpose, strengths and weaknesses of the current framework have been evaluated in terms of what is currently possible through the framework and what are the consequences of that for practical engagement. This research identifies the need of methodological tools for designers that allow and support them to overcome individual boundaries in order to be able to engage into common needs of a system holistic.
Keywords
Critical-Systems-Heuristics; Ulrich; rational; empirical; normative
Citation
Rothkegel, D. (2014) A shift of perspective in design inquiries: from individual boundaries to common needs, in Lim, Y., Niedderer, K., Redström, J., Stolterman, E. and Valtonen, A. (eds.), Design's Big Debates - DRS International Conference 2014, 16-19 June, Umeå, Sweden. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2014/researchpapers/81
A shift of perspective in design inquiries: from individual boundaries to common needs
This paper extends design and systems literature by evaluating issues in methodology and practice that maintain learning on an individual context and doesn´t allow an improvement of the whole system. The problem that has initiated this research is that it seems difficult for those engaged in a design process to reflect upon their own point of view in relation to other participants´ perspectives to identify the whole situation´s meaning. The idea of this research is to critically examine, from a practical design perspective, the framework of Critical-Systems-Heuristics (CSH) W. Ulrich, by taking previous critiques carried out and practical aspects derived from a case study under consideration. The purpose of this study is to identify issues of the current CSH-framework and to propose practical aspects to improve the same for civil engagement. In order to fulfill this purpose, strengths and weaknesses of the current framework have been evaluated in terms of what is currently possible through the framework and what are the consequences of that for practical engagement. This research identifies the need of methodological tools for designers that allow and support them to overcome individual boundaries in order to be able to engage into common needs of a system holistic.