The ontological nature of design: Prospecting new futures through probabilistic knowledge

As design thinking evolves we are beginning to develop a clearer idea of its relationship to other domains of thinking and in particular its specific ontological nature. Here we consider design’s special relationship to the future and how concepts of anticipation, probabilism and prospectivity underpin a new understanding of design’s relationship to cross-domain collaboration potential. In effect we discuss how design cares for the future of transformation in an era where rapidly advancing technologies via exponential technological developments are challenging human-machine interactions. Probabilistic knowledge emerges as an ontological reality for addressing the intrinsically abductive nature of future design research. Ultimately this approach implies a different form of knowing and aims to position design research as the discipline better prepared for addressing the future

Optimising user engagement in highly automated virtual assistants to improve energy management and consumption

This paper presents a multi-dimensional taxonomy of levels of automation and reparation specifically adapted to Virtual Assistants (VAs) in the context of Human-Human-Interaction (HHI). Building from this framework, the main output of this study provides a method of calculation which helps to generate a trust rating by which this score can be used to optimise users' engagement. The authors believe that this framework could play a critical role in optimising energy efficiency in both management and consumption, particular attention has been given to the relevance of contextual events and dynamism in enhancing trust. For instance by understanding that trust formation is a dynamic process that starts before the user's first contact with the system, and continues long thereafter. Furthermore, following the evolving nature of the system, factors affecting trust and the system itself change during user interactions over time; thus, systems need to be able to adapt and evolve. Present work is being dedicated to further understanding of how contexts and its derivative unintended consequences affect trust in highly automated VAs in the area of energy consumption

Futuring and trust; A prospective approach to designing trusted futures via a comparative study among design future models

The design of the future is the design of trust in relation to uncertainty and risk. In this paper we introduce Prospective Design via a comparative study between existing design future approaches. In this study, we outlined their limitations and propose a mixed methodology aimed at combining and enhancing different approaches to present an integrative model that aims to reconcile different perspectives and improve the main task of design in our unpredictable and exponential technological age: designing trust in prospective futures.

Designing trust: Evolving models and frameworks towards prospective design futures in highly automated systems

This Ph.D explores how trust can be designed in the context of highly automated systems (HASs). The case is made that HASs are not simply representations of logical and rational systems with a limited set of pre-programmed supervised tasks on behalf of the user. These systems are largely unsupervised and have the ability to learn and change over time. They can dynamically set their own goals, have the ability to adapt to local conditions via external information (sensors/input) and can potentially evolve in unexpected ways. Such characteristics are crucial for drawing informed conclusions from HASs, and can be addressed through appropriately designed tools and frameworks. Using this process, this study enables knowledge to apply ethical directionalities to the design of highly automated digital systems. In this process, I discuss that there is a need to develop new ethical frameworks in design to address the main requirements for design in the exponential digital technological age in which we live: preparedness, readiness, and appropriateness. This thesis is interested in applied ethics in large part because we are concerned, even obsessed, with the question of whom we can trust in a world where risk and uncertainty exist. In this context, trust plays a fundamental role as a mechanism to deal with uncertainty and risk. Trust formation is a dynamic process, starting before the user’s first contact with the system and continuing long thereafter. In this context, understanding how contexts, actions, and the unintended consequences that derive from them affect trust is fundamental for the effective design of HASs. In this thesis, the author proposes Prospective Design (PrD) as a future-led mixed methodology to mitigate unintended consequences in the context of HASs. This framework combines systems analysis with extrapolations and constructivist perspectives to reconcile confronted models of designing futures. It does so by exploring the context of the future development of virtual assistants (VAs). Although VAs are still in their infancy, they are expected to dominate digital interactions between humans and systems in the coming years. Investigating the prospective developments of this type of interaction device reveals the particular challenges of highly automated interactions for scholarly research. In this context, the intersection between the key issues of automation and accountability acts as a focal point. Departing from authored multi-dimensional strategies and modes of calculation in ethical computing that address the raising concerns and impact of HASs in society, this research examines how design decisions affect interactions between humans and systems, how these decisions may be made accessible to practitioners in design frameworks and how Prospective Design strategies are better suited to addressing the emerging concerns regarding these systems. This thesis contributes a new understanding of the ethical implications of designing HASs and provides the practical and conceptual means for making this knowledge accessible and usable to designers

Counterism and trust; From critical to Tactical design

In this paper we explore the emerging qualities of Counteristic Design practises as they depart from Discursive models. In this process, Counterism is under-pinned as an emerging field of study that seeks to design trust. Counterism offers a way of resistance by creating systems of autonomy, accountability and repara-tion that values difference and creativity. The two projects analysed vary in ap-proach, with some developing new methods by incorporating new technologies, while others reimagine existing methods. These approaches can offer interesting ways towards a new future for citizens at the intersection of social justice, and technology. Counteristic practises operate within the system with the aim to shape its directionality in a particular direction in which social justice is para-mount. In this process the critical becomes tactical in which the main aim is to restore trust rather than build engagement

Synthetic consequential reasoning: Facilitating the design of synthetic morality in highly automated systems via a multidimensional-scalar framework

This paper reviews the four fundamental frameworks available in normative ethics to underpin the most suitable strategy to facilitate the design of synthetic morality in the context of Highly Automated Systems (HAS). Based on research findings, it will present an updated multidimensional-scalar system of levels of automation specifically adapted to Highly Automated Systems (HAS) in the context of Human-Human-Interaction (HHI). This framework integrates the variables of autonomy, accountability, reparation, actions, con- texts, access, and inferences to build and facilitate the design of synthetic morality on highly automated unsupervised systems form a consequential perspective. As part of this process, a form of calculation emerges to facilitate the calibration of moral computational reasoning in the context of HAS

(Un)Frayling design research in design education for the 21Cth

This paper will focus on redefining design research education for the 21st Century. In this context, we will contextualize critical issues emerging from analyzing Christopher Frayling’s seminal paper Research in Art and Design by reviewing seminal theoretical work in the field of design by Archer (1968), Cross (1983), Jones (1970), and contemporary critiques such as Herriott (2019), and the authors (2019). By implementing an historical account into previous work, we will deconstruct Frayling’s structuring and why he articulated his framework leading to our critique of the fundamental problems arising from it. In the process, we build from previous work by the authors to reposition the ontological nature of design knowledge around notions of prospectivity, abductivity, and probabilism. This positioning emancipates design from the present, thus overcoming the scientific/tacit paradigms liberating design to operate in its true future-led prospective and transformational nature

(Un)Frayling design research in design education for the 21Cth

This paper will focus on redefining design research education for the 21 Cth by reviewing seminal theoretical work in the field of design by Archer (1968), Cross (1983), Jones (1970), and contemporary critiques such as Herriott (2019), or Galdon & Hall (2019). In this context, we will contextualise critical issues emerging from Christopher Frayling’s seminal paper Research in art and design. By implementing an historical account into previous work, we will understand why Frayling did what he did, why he articulated his framework in the way he did, and the fundamental problems arising from it. In the process, building from previous work of the authors, this paper repositions the ontological nature of design knowledge around notions of prospectivity, abductivity, and probabilism. This position emancipates design from the present, thus overcoming the scientific/tacit paradigms, and liberates design to operate in its future-led prospective and transformational nature. This position aligns with Blauvert’s (2008), third wave of design focused on a multiplicity of contingent, boundaried and conditional solutions

Deep products via undisciplined stewardship: Towards an environmentally-led design pedagogy for the 21st century

Designers are envisioning new typologies of products aiming for instance to extract CO2 from the environment or creating products from landfill waste, in this context a fundamental question arises; what could be a philosophical framework for a subtractive practise in design? In this paper the notion of Deep Products is introduced by building from notions of Deep ecology, Deep Design, and stewardship. This theoretical proposition addresses the design of products from a life-cycle perspective through contemporary notions of subtraction-by-design. The model presented transitions design to a model demanding extended projects considering every aspect of the life-cycle of products, from inception to deployment, while addressing issues of impact and reuse with the characteristic of subtraction-by-design. In this context, undisciplined stewardship is introduced as an ethical responsibility principle to enable the creation of such products by building from notions of personal responsibility, alterplinarity, and stewardship

Transferability: Exploring ontological properties for design knowing

The nature of design ontology continues to be explored as a crucial step in building closer relationships between the domains of the sciences, arts & humanities, and design. We focus thinking by design researchers including the co-authors to question the true nature of design ontology and its relationship to time, core design practices, reliability, and collaboration across domains. We examine how temporal relationships can drive a new definition of core domain level practices via an examination of Archer’s wroughting and wrighting as core practices for design. Our exploration identifies transferability as being the ontological essence of design. However, this raises serious problems in terms of rigour and reliability. We propose an ontological mirror that explains the diverse nature of design while addressing serious rigour issues. This formally positions design as knowledge for future transformation