*Artifact: Journal of Design Practise* 5.2 is now available on
IngentaConnect open access!

Click here to download articles >>
https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/intellect/ajdp/2018/00000005/00000002

*Issue 5.2*

*Editorial*
Author: Nedergaard, Nicky

*Articles*

Theory as habitus for scholarly design research
Author: Pizzocaro, Silvia

Higher education in design, scholarly research and design research need to
be continuously clarified in relation to evolving concepts such as
knowledge, theory and practice. Being awarded a Ph.D. in design about 25
years ago, when scholarly research in design was in its infancy, and
working with students in master and Ph.D. programmes in design for more
than two decades, I share with the reader what I keep on learning in this
educational milieu. It is my own perspective, based either on past
experience or on the ongoing perception of local concerns. More broadly, a
number of underlying general issues are reported to highlight the spread of
design research practice encompassing aspects such as theory as a practice;
the lack of fully consolidated design research frameworks where design
paradigms may be embedded; and the need to nurture and strengthen the
process of theory-making in design doctorates. What it is finally claimed
is the advantage of theory as formae mentis, intended as a habitus for
design research learners. While education in design often collectively
addresses the professions of design, architecture and engineering, the
following reflections will mainly address the manifold domains of
industrial design, intended as a comprehensive term for either tangible or
intangible design domains, intersecting product, graphic, communication,
visual and interaction design fields.

Afforded exploration: An approach to novel yet understandable product
experiences
Authors: Lee, Soyeon; Self, James A.

A product’s form and related affordances, together with interaction
possibilities, have a significant influence on the user’s emotional
response. Although interaction influences the user’s product experience,
little is known of how product interaction may best provide opportunities
for novel yet understandably familiar product-user experiences. The purpose
of this study is to contribute to understanding the contradictory
relationship between novelty and acceptability in product design, with a
focus on product interaction. Adopting a research-through-design approach,
four bottle designs were developed and prototyped. Two dichotomous
theoretical constructs were applied to the four designs:
Explanatory-Affordance, Exploratory-Affordance, Explanatory-DisAffordance
and Exploratory-DisAffordance-Based designs. The four constructs broadly
relate to the types of product interactions afforded through interaction
with the four bottle designs. Affordance and DisAffordance-Based designs
refer to the product’s ability to afford an understanding of use through
form and other signifiers. Explanatory-Exploratory-Based design suggests
the extent to which a user may exploratively interact with the product. The
four bottle designs were used as stimuli to collect participants’ emotional
response under controlled conditions. We confirmed the significant impact
of an exploitive approach to product interaction for increased positive
response and stimulation of novelty in product appraisal. Moreover,
affordance, while not stimulating positive emotion on its own, may provide
opportunity for reassurance and acceptability during product interaction
when combined with an explorative design approach.

Craft-based design for innovation: Potential in novelty, quality and
sustainability through hands-on interaction
Authors: Pinski, Jenny; Kane, Faith; Evans, Mark

The industrial revolution created a rise in mass manufacture, increasing
consumption to current unsustainable levels and marking a decline in
hands-on craft practice. In contemporary practice, designers frequently
employ digital ways of working and, whilst this may create opportunities
and efficiencies, it can limit the working of materials by hand. In
contrast, hands-on craft processes can develop in-depth knowledge and
understanding to help solve complex and novel design problems. With
increasing use of digital design methods, it is timely to reflect on the
role and value of hands-on craft practices. The study explores the use of
craft-based approaches to support design practice in relation to novelty
and quality and considers its future potential to contribute towards design
for sustainability. A design project that integrated hand weaving with
sandal design was undertaken and qualitative data were collected. This was
analysed through data reduction, coding, clustering and display and is
presented as a case study. The findings indicate that a craft-based
approach can contribute to a heightened control of materials, construction
and awareness of wider design issues such as the development process,
production methods and environmental impact. Difficulties were identified
in inefficient use of time and a knowledge/skills gap between specialist
design and craft disciplines.

For more information about the journal and calls for papers, click here >>
https://www.intellectbooks.com/artifact-journal-of-design-practice

Please note that the journal does not charge APCs or submission fees.

--
Tessa Mathieson,
Marketing Assistant
Intellect Ltd

*Intellect Ltd, The Mill, Parnall Road, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 3JG Tel:
0117 958 9910*


*[image: https://www.intellectbooks.com/] <https://www.intellectbooks.com/>*


-----------------------------------------------------------------
PhD-Design mailing list <[log in to unmask]>
Discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design
Subscribe or Unsubscribe at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/phd-design
-----------------------------------------------------------------