ENGAGING DESIGN MATERIALS, FORMATS AND FRAMINGS IN SPECIFIC, SITUATED CO-DESIGNING - A MICRO-MATERIAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Engaging co-designers in specific situations of co- designing often also means engaging tangible working materials. However, it can be challenging, so rather than seeing it as applying design methods, the article propose applying what I call a micro-material perspective. The practical concept captures both paying attention to the physical design materials, the formats of their exploration and the framings of focus when understanding and planning such specific co-design situations. To exemplify applying the perspective, the article describes and discusses six specific examples of “co-design situations” clustered in three quite well- known types of co-design situations framed for; Exploring Current Use(r) Practices, Mapping Networks and Co-Designing (Possible) Futures.