Abstract
This paper is based on empirical data obtained from two case studies whereby collaborative design of teams composed of four recent graduates with different backgrounds were studied. In both cases, the collected data is related to the interactions of team members toward the development of a design solution in response to a brief. Although the study of the collaborative design process is an essential part of this work, the focus of the paper is on the potential of an expanded Activity Theory as a methodological framework that allows detailed analysis of collaboration. A five-step data processing approach contributed to the emergence of a new theoretical model. The model, an expanded version of Activity Theory, takes into account creative and contextual processes of collaborative design, allowing for thorough data analysis and the production of systemic interpretation of design activity in context. Titled Designerly Activity Theory, we present our reasoning and supporting references as the contribution of this paper having potential to offer a situated framework for the ontology of design research.
Keywords
design team; activity theory; collaborative design; design research
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2018.197
Citation
Zahedi, M., and Tessier, V. (2018) Designerly Activity Theory: toward a new ontology for design research, in Storni, C., Leahy, K., McMahon, M., Lloyd, P. and Bohemia, E. (eds.), Design as a catalyst for change - DRS International Conference 2018, 25-28 June, Limerick, Ireland. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2018.197
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Designerly Activity Theory: toward a new ontology for design research
This paper is based on empirical data obtained from two case studies whereby collaborative design of teams composed of four recent graduates with different backgrounds were studied. In both cases, the collected data is related to the interactions of team members toward the development of a design solution in response to a brief. Although the study of the collaborative design process is an essential part of this work, the focus of the paper is on the potential of an expanded Activity Theory as a methodological framework that allows detailed analysis of collaboration. A five-step data processing approach contributed to the emergence of a new theoretical model. The model, an expanded version of Activity Theory, takes into account creative and contextual processes of collaborative design, allowing for thorough data analysis and the production of systemic interpretation of design activity in context. Titled Designerly Activity Theory, we present our reasoning and supporting references as the contribution of this paper having potential to offer a situated framework for the ontology of design research.