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The use of irony and humour to articulate concerns related to the ethics of design is evident in some of the consumer reviews on e-commerce websites including Amazon. Although these reviews have become a viral sensation on the internet, the use of such irony and humour in discussions concerning design ethics is only briefly mentioned in academic design literature. In this article, I reflect on a product review workshop that I hosted at an academic conference in which the participants reviewed a consumer product using a similar form of irony and humour. I conclude by suggesting that the workshop can be understood as methodologically useful to provoke discussions concerning design ethics whilst enabling the study of the use of irony and humour during such discussions in design settings. I also claim that such a workshop encourages the application of an ironic and humorous approach to discussing design ethics beyond design workshops, and the immediate aims and objectives of the workshops irony and humour is explored within. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collaborative research projects are great opportunities for the involved design professionals to learn. Many design professionals join in such collaborations to contribute with their existing professional expertise, but also to further develop and extend that expertise. However, learning by individuals is usually not the main aim, and we lack insight in the learning opportunities through collaboration in such projects. We propose that we need to understand this learning process better in order to make this happen more often and more effectively. This paper presents how four design professionals who each participated in different collaborative research projects look back on their learning processes. We interviewed each participant and drew a process map with them. The results show that these projects offer multifaceted learning opportunities and outcomes of important value for the professionals.The paper shows that their learning a) is not always easily recognised by the professionals themselves, b) benefits from their active engagement as learners, and c) requires supportive conditions in project arrangements. The paper provides guidelines for lead researchers, design professionals, as well as funding agencies to recognise and value this learning, to support explicit reflection and articulation, and to facilitate supportive learning conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Just a few decades after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights pronounced housing as a human right in 1948, the concept of the home as shelter was overshadowed by home ownership and asset creation, resulting in inadequate affordable housing, or homelessness for many, in urban contexts. Despite this, the house as a material and spatial artefact and the production of the home are consistently in negotiation by individuals and groups who are marginalized from the hegemonic private housing and real estate system. This article is an examination of the ways in which radical practices of everyday homemaking can inform professional design practice and policy to facilitate better housing for dignified inhabitation. The study of houses self-built or upgraded in Mumbai, India, and Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom, demonstrate that living takes place through shifting imaginations of the house as property to that of the home, involving aspiration and flexibility. This form of design is produced by persistently reworking the home, through innovative design solutions that assemble spatial and material bricolages and non-standard designs, implemented by a slew of small-time contractors and workers that form an extended ecology of design practice. These findings open new logics of delivery systems and consequent configurations of space that enrich lived relationships, experiences, and imaginations, often overlooked by mainstream frameworks of housing. This article, therefore, expands the debate on housing quantity to meet the current housing needs, to include quality of living within these, that can be influenced through a reformulation of professional design practice and policy. Comparing the two cities across the Global South and the Global North develops an understanding of generalizations and the particularities related to housing contexts, and informs how housing precarity operates beyond a certain locality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the creation and the potentials of an online tool to identify and document case studies that demonstrate perceived best practices in the design and implementation of advanced, sustainable, and climate-responsive integrated buildings facades. The project was created to catalog these projects in sufficient detail to allow users—expected to include design professionals, students, and faculty—to discover and study relevant examples, based on key project features, defined by the authors as technologically advanced and worthy of relevance: daylight and solar control, natural ventilation, noise control, embodied carbon, energy generation, and innovative insulation systems. The website documenting 44 case study buildings and this paper provides a preliminary overview about how it was made, what it is, and what some potential uses of the tool might be. This study emphasizes adaptability across climates, showcasing sustainable facades designed to balance energy efficiency with occupant comfort. This study also shows how data can be analyzed through the Map, based on four case studies. Presenting these statistics, the resource offers a foundation for exploring facade technologies that support sustainable building practices and respond effectively to climate-specific challenges. In doing so, the authors aim to inspire further exploration of innovative facade solutions within the context of sustainable building practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has forced many universities to adopt online teaching. However, the design discipline attaches great importance to on-site operation and face-to-face design discussions, causing teachers to face major challenges in the implementation of distance teaching. The purpose of this study is to investigate the suitability and teaching strategies for distance teaching in designing courses ("design theory", "design practice", and "hybrid design"). The participants were 312 college students from 1st to 4th grade (above). The questionnaire is based on the "presence" that distance teaching focuses on, including: (1) "cognitive presence", (2) "social presence", and (3) "teaching presence". Each indicator corresponds to the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ). The results of the study found: (1) "Creating a communication environment" and "real interactive feeling" are the most important elements, (2) A "hybrid design" course is more suitable for distance teaching design than other design courses, (3) The element of "hard requirements" is particularly prominent in the "design practice" course, and (4) Distance teaching needs to strengthen "social presence". These results could provide a reference teaching planning template for the design department's distance courses, assist teachers in curriculum planning and adjustment so that the design department can improve the existing distance predicament. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating contextual factors throughout a design process is necessary for successful outcomes in global health settings. However, additional tools are needed to equip engineering students with skills to investigate and incorporate contextual factors into their design processes. We developed in-depth narratives from three real design experiences to demonstrate how design practitioners incorporate a broad range of contextual factors into their global health solutions. Since incorporating context is not yet systematized in engineering design work, narratives provide necessary nuance and exposure to the concepts and approaches used by experienced designers. Our findings highlighted several ways engineering design practitioners incorporated contextual factors into their design processes, including regularly conducting first-hand observations, developing meaningful relationships with stakeholders, and using iterative and adaptive design approaches that allow for contextual factors to emerge throughout a design process. Ultimately, we recommend engineering educators encourage more consideration and incorporation of contextual factors into engineering design processes, particularly in global health settings. These narratives can be used in engineering classrooms to support novice designers' acquisition of skills related to incorporating contextual factors into engineering design processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the relationships between calligraphy elements, visual communication effects and cultural significance in the context of contemporary visualization of traditional Chinese arts. Thematic analysis was conducted on interview responses to uncover insights into the complex dynamics at play. In-depth interviews with professionals and scholars provided firsthand perspectives on integrating calligraphy elements in visual communication, the effects of visual communication on audience perceptions and the role of cultural heritage in design practice. Comparative analysis with existing literature further enriched the understanding of the variables' relationships and their implications for theory and practice. The findings reveal intricate relationships between calligraphy elements, visual communication effects, and cultural significance. Calligraphy elements enhance visual communication by imbuing design materials with cultural depth, authenticity and emotional resonance. Visual communication influences audience perceptions of cultural significance, shaping their attitudes and behaviors towards cultural artifacts and representations. Furthermore, cultural heritage informs design practice by providing a rich source of inspiration and meaning, guiding the creation of culturally resonant and effective communication materials. This research contributes to theoretical advancements in visual communication, cultural studies and design theory by uncovering insights into the relationships between calligraphy elements, visual communication effects, and cultural significance. The practical implications for professionals in design, marketing and cultural heritage preservation include providing practical guidance for creating culturally resonant communication materials and informing policies and initiatives that support the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseño y Comunicación is the property of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseno y Comunicacion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Architectural Journal / Jian Zhu Xue Bao is the property of Architectural Journal Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The roof is the part of a building that is exposed to solar radiation for the longest period, making green roofs particularly effective in reducing air conditioning energy consumption during the summer. This study aims to assess the advantages of modular green roofs in terms of energy savings and cost reduction during the summer in Xuzhou. By conducting field measurements and surveys under both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned conditions and utilizing building energy simulation tools, the performance of green roofs with different parameters was compared. Using EnergyPlus, factors such as soil thickness, thermal conductivity, and leaf area index were simulated. The results indicated that green roofs have superior thermal performance in summer, with the daily cooling load per unit area for top-floor rooms being 1.05 kWh/m2, 0.21 kWh/m2 lower than that for bare roofs, achieving an energy saving rate of 16.7%. It is recommended that soil thickness not exceed 0.3 m and insulation thickness not exceed 0.05 m or be set to 0 m. Take building no. 2 of the Xuzhou material market as an example: with the optimized green roof, the energy saving rate increased to 27.0%, which is 12.4% higher than that of the original green roof. The suggested cost for modular green roofs is 204 RMB/m2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape architecture education in the 21st century witnessed a transition from merely art and engineering to a future that integrates knowledge in science, psychology, environmental studies, ecology, and more. Using planting and environmental design practice as an example, the education focus needs to shift from purely demonstrating aesthetics to a comprehensive framework that integrates aesthetics, ecological services, and social and spatial functionality. This paper explored the gaps in planting and environmental design between pedagogy and practice. The result indicates that college-level education in planting and environmental design is majorly focused on plant identification, ornamental properties, and construction drawing communications, whereas the practical field indicates an expectation of more horticultural and ecological knowledge in design practice from college-level education. To bridge the gap, the article identified the proper trajectories through qualitative research including a questionnaire survey, semi-structured interview, content analysis and cross analysis to explore a sustainable development education framework of planting and environmental design based on the barriers of knowledge dissemination between academia and practice.

This paper critically examines the contemporary relationship between design and decolonization, with a focus on reevaluating our expectations of design as a profession and exploring potential pathways forward. The discussion centers on the stagnant state of design discourse, and the intricate power dynamics within design practices. It underscores the significance of recognizing that designers do not uniformly occupy identical positions, highlighting the asymmetrical power dynamics inherent in design nearshoring and the prioritization of Northern interests. Furthermore, it questions the reliance on exclusive designerly methods for systemic change, the pursuit of the common good, and the realization of the pluriverse. We claim that design, in its current form, often reinforces capitalist and colonial structures rather than dismantling them. The paper criticizes design’s complicity in perpetuating colonial differences while claiming to address them, recognizing the fundamental role of design for the realization of the modern project and as a key enabler of capitalist modes of production and consumption. Through an interdisciplinary lens, this paper scrutinizes the dissonance between design’s self-professed ethical values and the pursuit of capitalistic gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the transformative potential of multiple, more complex decolonial paths in design practice. Through a recap of persistent tendencies in design discourse, such as universalization, rooted within coloniality and a European/Western dominant design paradigm, I advocate for a nuanced understanding of commonality and difference in our designing. Bringing the focus to praxis, I draw from examples in my design practice and pedagogy, highlighting the significance of personal reflexivity in challenging conventional design ideals and a mostly singular design history, while underscoring the importance of incorporating personal history, the history of the place, and its conditions to weave decolonial paths toward conviviality and the sustainment of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cantonese morning tea drinking is a cherished intangible cultural heritage in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area in China and embodies Guangdong's culinary tradition. In the digital era, innovative design techniques and digital technology have been applied to preserve and promote this tradition. To enhance heritage education, we designed an augmented reality device for Cantonese morning tea using Pepper's Ghost technique. Employing field investigations, literature research, and experiments, we showcased Cantonese morning tea drinking. For further developments, affordable materials and professional photos are essential for constructing the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative multi-case study explores the exercise and development of the design judgment of eight instructional design (ID) students working on design projects over one semester in graduate programs at four different institutions in the USA. Their design processes were explored through interviews and their design documents using the concepts of design judgment as reported by Nelson and Stolterman (The design way: Intentional change in an unpredictable world, MIT Press, Cambridge, 2012) and reflection-in-action as reported by Schön (The reflective practitioner: How professionals think in action, Basic Books, New York, 1983) to characterize the exercise and development of their design judgment across the semester. Findings reveal that these ID students make multiple design judgments concurrently and constantly. Their prior design experience, the course requirements and their design practice in class influence both the exercise and development of their design judgment. Lastly, the development of their design judgment is both perceptible and personal. In light of these findings, recommendations are made for how to support the development of ID students' design judgment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically examines the contemporary relationship between design and decolonization, with a focus on reevaluating our expectations of design as a profession and exploring potential pathways forward. The discussion centers on the stagnant state of design discourse, and the intricate power dynamics within design practices. It underscores the significance of recognizing that designers do not uniformly occupy identical positions, highlighting the asymmetrical power dynamics inherent in design nearshoring and the prioritization of Northern interests. Furthermore, it questions the reliance on exclusive designerly methods for systemic change, the pursuit of the common good, and the realization of the pluriverse. We claim that design, in its current form, often reinforces capitalist and colonial structures rather than dismantling them. The paper criticizes design’s complicity in perpetuating colonial differences while claiming to address them, recognizing the fundamental role of design for the realization of the modern project and as a key enabler of capitalist modes of production and consumption. Through an interdisciplinary lens, this paper scrutinizes the dissonance between design’s self-professed ethical values and the pursuit of capitalistic gains.

This article explores the transformative potential of multiple, more complex decolonial paths in design practice. Through a recap of persistent tendencies in design discourse, such as universalization, rooted within coloniality and a European/Western dominant design paradigm, I advocate for a nuanced understanding of commonality and difference in our designing. Bringing the focus to praxis, I draw from examples in my design practice and pedagogy, highlighting the significance of personal reflexivity in challenging conventional design ideals and a mostly singular design history, while underscoring the importance of incorporating personal history, the history of the place, and its conditions to weave decolonial paths toward conviviality and the sustainment of life.

Behavioural designers adopt practices from both design and behavioural science. Yet methodological discussions are fragmented across these fields. In response, this paper – for the first time – examines and draws together research on decision-making and methodologies applied to behavioural design via a systematic review. We identify three major themes challenging current understanding of behavioural design: Complex behavioural design space, Systemic behavioural design, and Behavioural design empathy and ethics. These themes give rise to a fundamental reconceptualization of the behavioural design process captured in our 'Behavioural Design IM-PACT process model'. This model integrates a fuzzy front and back end around a co-evolutionary development process. Through this, we explain how design and behavioural science practices can be synthesised to deal with wicked behavioural problems in a complex context where a long intervention afterlife is inevitable. This highlights the way towards more integrative behavioural design with major implications for researchers and practitioners across fields. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01602705. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of New Architecture is the property of New Architecture Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Design fixation is characterised by an overcommitment to prior experiences, knowledge or assumptions that restricts design exploration. Existing experimental research predominantly portrays design fixation as a momentary, individual-based state that inhibits creativity, leaving unclear its evolution and its implications for creativity within professional groups. Tracking nine new product development projects over two months, this theory-building research takes a temporal perspective to reconceptualise design fixation as a dynamic state evolving over time in group-based interactions. The analysis provides insights into the psychological dynamics underlying design fixation and the social and contextual dynamics influencing it. It further reveals instances when fixation precedes, rather than inhibits, the emergence of creative moments. These findings contribute to a better understanding of design fixation and creativity in the real world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contributes to the discussion about how theoretical perspectives on change in the fashion system can be translated into practice. The discussion is raised based on experimental and practice-based research on how designers can engage with users to gain insights on material and aesthetic experiences in about use. The presented research is based on design experiments that indicate how designers advantageously can increase their awareness of different aesthetic preferences and body shapes. This perspective suggests considering the use phase as a part of the design process to encourage user empowerment as part of the sustainable transition that the fashion industry faces. It also indicates that designers and companies should be aware of the potential of user dialogue and how this knowledge can be translated into a sustainable business model while fostering a user empowering approach to the use of garments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cantonese morning tea drinking is a cherished intangible cultural heritage in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area in China and embodies Guangdong’s culinary tradition. In the digital era, innovative design techniques and digital technology have been applied to preserve and promote this tradition. To enhance heritage education, we designed an augmented reality device for Cantonese morning tea using Pepper’s Ghost technique. Employing field investigations, literature research, and experiments, we showcased Cantonese morning tea drinking. For further developments, affordable materials and professional photos are essential for constructing the model.

This article considers how the pursuit of problematization advocated by Agre's concept of critical technical practice has been articulated in relation to the increasing proliferation of interfaces across everyday life. While the ethos of Agre's work to bridge the split identity of critique and craft can readily be found in reflexive design or software art, these cases are not always situated within broader ecologies of practice that also grapple with the asymmetries and exploitative aspects of interface design. Drawing from software studies and media theoretical accounts of the interface as a fluid milieu, I provide a navigational matrix to contextualize modes of interface critique at large, namely specifying traps and enclosures, surfacing asymmetries and augmenting alternatives. I argue, finally, that these modes provide an invitation to develop new metacritical theories and common capacities, particularly through the possibilities of grappling with systems of domination otherwise built to prefigure our experiences of them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve understanding of prototyping practice at the fuzzy front end of the design process, this article presents an analysis of a prototyping dataset captured during the IDEA challenge - a 4-day virtually hosted hackathon - using Pro2booth, a web-based prototype capture tool. The dataset comprised 203 prototypes created by four independent teams working in university labs across Europe supported by interviews carried out with each of the teams after the event. The results of the study provide nine key findings about prototyping at hackathons. These include elucidation of the purposes of prototypes in physical, digital and sketch domains and characterisation of teams' prototyping practices and strategies. The most successful strategy focused on learning about the problem or solution space, often via physical prototypes rather than following more prescriptive 'theoretical' methodologies. Recommendations on prototyping strategies in hackathons or similar scenarios are provided, highlighting the importance of practical strategies that prioritise learning and adaptation. The results of this study raise the broader question to the wider research community of how design research and teaching should balance high-level strategic approaches with more hands-on 'operational' prototyping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assistive technology (AT) is any artefact that enables participation in activities usually limited by disability. Frequently, AT suffers from poor design engagement and utilisation. Moreover, up to 30% of all AT is abandoned within a year, negatively impacting users. This presents an ongoing challenge for occupational therapists (OTs) who work with assistive technologies. A literature review was conducted using a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis protocol to understand this issue and its implications for the design community. This study explores current themes of AT abandonment and the role of OT within the lens of design thinking. Studies, including design intervention in AT, were subsequently highlighted. This led to comparing this literature with more traditional health literature, exploring the potential enablers and barriers for design in engaging with AT. This evidenced the benefits of collaboration between design and OT disciplines to improve the product and reduce abandonment issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design occurs in complex socio-technical contexts with conflicting stakeholder goals, requirements and other constraints. These limit solution options and create trade-offs where improvements relative to one goal come at the expense of performance on another. Little is known about how the design context influences trade-offs, or how designers interact with context to manage trade-offs. This article reports on an exploratory qualitative interview study investigating design trade-offs in relation to their socio-technical context. We identified nine themes reflecting engineering designers' perceptions of the influence of the design context on their ability to resolve trade-offs. Findings suggest that the design context is both a source of trade-offs, and of knowledge and information that helps designers clarify ambiguous requirements to navigate and resolve trade-offs. The results provide insight into how designers interactwith the design context to learn about the structure of their design problems and the degrees of freedom available to resolve trade-offs. The findings also contribute to understanding the effects of path dependencies in trade-off situations, and how the sequential distribution of design decisions over time constrains trade-off resolution. We discuss some of the goals and challenges of conducting rigorous qualitative research in design and identify potential directions for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban historic blocks are an important part of urban public space, but urban public space pays far less attention to users' experience, and there is a lack of design problem of experiential theme landscape. The landscape design practice of Shengjin Tower Folk Custom Historical Block in Nanchang provides an attempt to explore the design problem of experiential theme landscape. In this paper, the results of the design practice were sorted out and summarized, and the specific conception of the experiential design of urban public space was discussed from three aspects of the experiential control design, spatial experience design and serial experience design of the historic block on the basis of elaborating the design concept, so as to provide inspiration and reference for similar urban historic block projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the dual background of the post-epidemic era and the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, TYVEK materials, which combine health care performance and environmental protection and sustainable performance, stand out and become the hot material selection of various brands. However, at present, there is a lack of theoretical research on TYVEK material design methods, resulting in few practical applications based on TYVEK materials. To solve this problem, the characteristics of TYVEK was reviewed by literature review and expert consultation in this paper. Then, by using fabric experiment method and case analysis method, the design methods of TYVEK material in creative clothing design were summarized, which mainly included incremental decoration method, subtractive decoration method, three-dimensional decoration method and multi-functional deformable decoration method. Finally, taking Picasso's painting as design inspiration, the design practice of TYVEK material in creative clothing was analyzed, in order to enrich the design theory and method of TYVEK material, and to provide reference for exploring the design integration of environmental protection materials and textile and clothing field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]