Bringing an interactive artefact into being : Examining the use of an architectural design model in interaction design

Sammanfattning: This thesis examines the use of an architectural design model in interaction design and provides a detailed and concrete account of bringing an interactive artefact, the Recipe Station, into being.The model of architectural design, with its view of the activity of design as envisioning and making incorporates a number of design traditions that allows architects to deal with novel challenges in an effective and efficient manner. It is argued that the prevalent model of architectural design can provide a more coherent and richer framework for the activity of interaction design than is currently the case.This model of architectural design is illuminated by the author’s reflection on design research carried out in traditional design disciplines as well as his own experience in the professional practice of architecture. The model of architectural design, thus illuminated, is then evaluated by applying it to bring an interactive artefact, the Recipe Station, into being.This thesis demonstrates that the model of architectural design offers a number of advantages for interaction design activity.The account of bringing an interactive artefact discussed in this thesis illustrates a process or morphology of the activity of reflective design that can be applied to interaction design (Schön, 1983).The thesis also illuminates a number of design traditions associated with a architectural design practice, such as, study of design cases, a solution-focused approach to the process of problem formulation, and a ‘design by drawing’ approach, that can offer significant advantages for the activity of interaction design.This thesis, thus, introduces a way of thinking about the activity of design which is driven by the design skills of the designer and makes contributions to interaction design research.