A Socio-Technical Research Method for Analyzing and Instrumenting the Design Activity
by Jean-François Boujut, Henri Tiger
J. of Design Research (JDR), Vol. 2, No. 2, 2002

Abstract: Empirical studies are privileged means to obtain a holistic view of designing as it is practiced in the world. In this paper we describe a collaboration we have been carrying out for almost ten years in Grenoble between engineers and social scientists. Through this collaboration we have developed a common understanding of design and formulated a set of core of concepts - which we expose in the text. In this research we have drawn upon ethnographic methods for doing fieldwork. We also actively intervened in the design process as part of our experimentation. This provides us with a tool, complementary to passive observation, which gives insight into the fine grain mechanisms of the design process. We studied design teams and focused on design cooperation and instrumental methods for improving design co-operation.

Online publication date: Wed, 10-Aug-2005

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