The Confluence of Interaction Design & Design: from Disciplinary to Transdisciplinary Perspectives

In keeping with the conference theme of rigour and the authors’ interest in sustainability and interaction design, we describe the confluence of design-oriented notions of interaction design and HCI-oriented notions of interaction design in terms of understanding the present and making choices about possible futures. We comment on the variety of research modes in this confluence and then take up the issue of how disciplinarity, multidisciplinarity, and interdisciplinarity operate and fail to operate as boundary crossing mechanisms for these research modes. As a complement and extension to disciplinary, multidisciplinary, and interdisciplinary practices, we take up the notion of transdisciplinarity and describe how it informs the possibility of values-rich free boundary crossing between research modes in the service of real world issues, while still preserving rigour. Keywords: Transdisciplinarity; Interaction Design; Design Research; Sustainability; Disciplinarity; Multidisciplinarity; Interdisciplinarity.</p

Metamorphosis: Transforming Non-designers into Designers

In this paper we make the case that there is today a growing number of educational settings experiencing challenges when it comes to transforming non-designers into designers, and in particular, interaction designers. We see this development as a consequence of an increased awareness and recognition of what broadly could be labeled as a design perspective. We examine the transformational process, the metamorphosis, by which non-designer students become interaction designers. We identify and describe the barriers that make it difficult for the students to move through this transformational process. We also propose some pedagogical approaches that can reduce the barriers and improve the possibility for the transformation to occur. The approach that we have developed and describe consists of three parts. Based on a fundamental understanding of the nature of design, we have developed (i) a tentative transformational model of how non-designers become interaction designers; (ii) a special kind of conceptual framework used to support students in the transformational process; and (iii) design assignments based on real-world design problems. We end the paper with two conclusions. First we argue that there is a challenge in transforming non-designers into designers, but that it is possible if the educational effort is based on an understanding of design and on the transformational process with its barriers. Finally we argue that the experience of trying to turn non-designers into interaction designers is in itself a valuable research approach. Dealing with non-designer students reveals deep insights about the nature of the design process and makes it possible to better formulate what constitutes a designerly approach. Keywords Design, Design education, Pedagogy, HCI</p

HOW SYSTEM DESIGNERS THINK ABOUT DESIGN AND METHODS: Some Reflections Based on an Interview Study

Today system design methods seem to presuppose the system design process as problem solving, i.e. as repair of a malfunctioning reality. Another assumption underlying these methods is the irrationality of system designers practice. This paper challenges this, often naive, view of rationality underlying system design methods by searching for the hidden rationality of practice. Twenty system designers were interviewed about their view on design skill, design methods, quality and the \u27nature\u27 of system design. The answers of the designers in many cases contradicts basic assumptions underlying many of today\u27s design methods, especially assumptions about the nature and rationality of the design process. One conclusion of the study is that a general understanding of the existing design practice is of crucial importance to all method development, at least if the purpose is to create methods that will be accepted and understood by practitioners

Information Systems Research and Social Responsibility

Abstract not available

Designerly Tools

An assumption behind this paper is that research aimed at improving interaction design practice is not as successful as it could be. We will argue that one reason for this is that the understanding of what constitutes designerly tools is not enough recognized among those who propose new tools for interaction design. We define designerly tools as methods, tools, techniques, and approaches that support design activity in way that is appreciated by practicing interaction designers. Based on a two empirical studies, we have developed a framework and a way of studying designers and their tools. We discuss some insights about what characterizes designerly tools and what kind of implications these insights might have for the further development of tools aimed at supporting design practice. Keywords: Design, Tools, Interaction Design, Activities, Support For Design</p

Personal Informatics and Reflection: A Critical Examination of the Nature of Reflection

poster abstractPersonal informatics systems that help people both collect and reflect on various kinds of personal information are growing rapidly. Despite the importance of journaling and the main role it has in tracking one’s personal growth, a limited number of studies have examined journaling in the area of personal informatics in detail. In this paper, we critically examine the process of reflection on experiences, thoughts and evolving insights through a qualitative research study. We also present the design research process we conducted to develop the Wandering Mind as a support tool to help individuals record and reflect on their experiences

Gaza Everywhere: exploring the applicability of a rhetorical lens in HCI

By examining application software as a type of rhetorical artifact, it is possible to highlight its social, ethical and moral implications. In this paper, we explore one possibility for such a lens: application software functioning as a visual enthymeme. To explore the applicability of that concept in HCI, we analyze one web application as a first step. In our analysis, we observe that interaction and usability are two features that support an application in functioning as a visu- al enthymeme. Also, online sharing could help the user take the role of the arguer. Our analysis allows us to outline the elements of a user-centric persuasive experience and shows promise for further explorations regarding the applicability of rhetoric in HCI.

Analyzing Artifact Interaction Complexity

The underlying motivation for our research is the need for a deeper understanding of human-computer interaction that can speak to the increasingly varied and intricate forms of interactivity and interfaces that are present in everyday life. With this purpose in mind we have examined and ‘tested’ an already existing theoretical framework on interaction complexity. We have done this by applying an analytical, artifactist methodological approach. Our studies have led to both support and criticism of the existing framework, and allowed us to develop and extend it further. Our conclusion is that an artifactist approach has potential and that there is much to explore and learn by studying interaction and interactivity based on such an approach

Design Arguments – an examination of how designers argue for their designs

To communicate a design can be seen as consisting of at least two aspects: presentation and argumentation. In our research we have taken on the task of studying how practicing interaction designers approach the challenge of presenting and arguing for their designs. We have chosen to label our object of study, or unit of analysis, a design argument. Based on three studies, we have developed a descriptive framework that can be used to describe, analyze, and compare design arguments. The paper ends with some discussions and reflections concerning the potential relevance, use, and implications of a framework of design arguments