‘Does this compromise your design?’ Interactionally producing a design concept in talk

Abstract

How a design concept was interactionally produced in the talk-in-interaction between an architect and client representatives was studied. The empirical analysis was informed by ethnomethodology and conversation analysis to observe structures and patterns of talk that accomplished actions and practices of design. Some differences were observed between the properties of the design concept in comparison with the design ideas that were considered during these conversations. The design concept was observed to be significant for assessing why some moves in a design space were considered better than others. The importance of the design concept to these interactions raised more general questions about what a design concept is and how it can be described as an object type. With reference to studies of science, technology and society these concerns were provisionally engaged with and further study of the object properties of design concepts is suggested.

Keywords:

• design concept
• design activity
• collaborative design
• objects

Acknowledgements

The discussion of this research with the participants at the DTRS 7 symposium was constructive and has informed developments made to this paper, together with communications with Ben Matthews, Martin Stacey and Eric Blanco.