Category: regular

An idea

We need to find a way of talking about visualisation and forefronting the conceptual and cultural elements of the design practice, while putting the ‘dataviz’ aspects in the background.

Also need to find some way of wrapping up the visualisation, evidencing, provocation, probing, aspects of design (need a good word for that).

What is critical design?

Critical Design uses speculative design proposals to challenge narrow assumptions, preconceptions and givens about the role products play in everyday life. It is more of an attitude than anything else, a position rather than a method. There are many people doing this who have never heard of the term critical design and who have their own way of describing what they do. Naming it Critical Design is simply a useful way of making this activity more visible and subject to discussion and debate.

A Critical Artefact Methodology: Using Provocative Conceptual Designs to Foster Human-centred Innovation

“This research develops a rationale for using provocative conceptual designs to foster the innovation of human-centred product ideas – a ‘critical artefact methodology’.”

“I suggest that critical design (Dunne 1999) and related design practices have similar characteristics and operation to Critical Theory: a view that the status quo (generally affirmed by design) somehow ‘oppresses’ society; that ‘enlightenment’ of the factors underlying this ‘emancipates’ society and is facilitated by a reading of critiques (alternative proposals such as critical artefacts).”

Simon Bowen » A Critical Artefact Methodology:Using Provocative Conceptual Designs to Foster Human-centred Innovation