When the majority of designers teach or use design process models, they tend to emphasize the fact that the models are iterative, and that it will be natural to expect to go through the cycle more than once. It is also common practice to mention that the design cycle does not have a fixed starting point, but can instead begin at any stage of the model.
In this book, we will unpack one design process model by examining that basic assumption. Our hypothesis is that, although we can begin at any stage, each starting point has consequences that influence both the rest of the project and the eventual outcome.
To test this hypothesis, we invite designers and design researchers to carry out and document a project beginning at one of three stages: think, make, and learn. The documentation should consist of working notes that use the standard three-column ethnographic model (observations, personal reactions, interpretation), photos of the team and the work in progress, photos and images from the final presentations, and video (both standard and 306 degree).
Dividing the book into these three sections, with the example projects grouped in each, we will then invite the authors to discuss the process they and others followed, as well as the results, with the goal of elaborating on the process model by identifying some of the key ways that each starting point resulted in a different experience and outcome. The strategy might best be characterized as a shared approach to both writing and editing.
Please submit a 250-350 word abstract and a brief author bio in one attachment (Word or .txt format) to make.30hwr0@zapiermail.com by (extended) March 7, 2020.
Direct any questions to Milena Radzikowska (mradzikowska@mtroyal.ca) or Stan Ruecker (sruecker@illinois.edu). Accepted submissions should be 6000-7000 words and will be due to the editors by July 1, 2020.