I have developed in my PhD a materialistic view of design space based on
Activity Theory and Production of Space.
In this view, the design space is not just an abstract space manipulated by
the designer, but a material space produced by many people, including
users, clients and stakeholders. This was important for me since I wanted
to grasp the object of design activity in a social perspective.
Through empirical work, I found evidence that architects (and users) are
not only producing space as Nigan put it, but also producing possibilities
of space. These possibilities are not to be understood as abstract thoughts
(ideas), but concrete materiality because they have to do with what people
can or can't do.
The main evidence of that materiality is the presence of socially
accumulated contradictions in the design space. I argue that contradictions
in design activity are reproduced in the design space and vice-versa.
The thesis along with the open data can be found here:
http://fredvanamstel.com/publications/expansive-design-designing-with-contradictions-2
And an earlier paper about contradictions in the design space:
http://fredvanamstel.com/publications/contradictions-in-the-design-space
This totally drags the discussion away from its cognitive origins. I wonder
if that could be useful for other researchers too.
Cheers,
--
.
.{ Frederick van Amstel }.
Lecturer at Architecture & Design School - PUCPR - Brazil
http://fredvanmstel.com
http://usabilidoido.com.br
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