Short answer

Designers should move beyond creating seamless, frictionless experiences and instead explore how to intentionally introduce 'friction' into everyday products and services to stimulate critical thought and active civic participation.

Field: Innovation & Design
Source: Aarhus Series on Human Centered Computing (2015)
Method: Theoretical analysis and synthesis of existing research on contestational design, infrastructures of civic engagement, and theories of everyday life.
Evidence: Moderate effect

Designing infrastructures that intentionally create 'friction' within everyday life can provoke contestation and foster more meaningful civic engagement beyond privileged moments. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2015 study published in Aarhus Series on Human Centered Computing. Using Theoretical analysis and synthesis of existing research on contestational design, infrastructures of civic engagement, and theories of everyday life., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers should move beyond creating seamless, frictionless experiences and instead explore how to intentionally introduce 'friction' into everyday products and services to stimulate critical thought and active civic participation.

Study

Innovation & DesignHigh ImpactModerate effect

Design for 'Friction' to Foster Deeper Civic Engagement

Designing infrastructures that intentionally create 'friction' within everyday life can provoke contestation and foster more meaningful civic engagement beyond privileged moments.

Aarhus Series on Human Centered Computing · 2015

Key Findings

01There is a distinction between 'privileged moments' of civic engagement and a more holistic understanding of the everyday as 'product-residue'.
02Infrastructures that create 'friction' through everyday use can provoke contestation and deeper civic engagement.
03Current designs often focus on 'privileged moments' rather than embedding engagement within the fabric of daily life.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When designing a public service interface, consider adding a small, optional step that asks users to reflect on a related societal issue, or when designing a community app, introduce a feature that highlights local debates or differing viewpoints, even if it slightly slows down the primary task.

Project actions

01Consider how your design could introduce a moment of reflection or questioning for the user.
02Think about how your design fits into a user's daily routine, not just a one-off interaction.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can design interventions create 'friction' within everyday life to encourage contestational civic engagement?

MethodTheoretical analysis and synthesis of existing research on contestational design, infrastructures of civic engagement, and theories of everyday life.

ProcedureThe researchers analyzed existing efforts to design civic engagement infrastructures along two axes: the 'everyday-ness' of engagement (from 'privileged moments' to 'product-residue') and the paradigm of political participation (from consensus to contestation). They identified a gap and a promise in designs that create 'friction' through everyday use.

ContextDesign of civic engagement infrastructures and socio-political participation.

Variables

IVPresence/nature of 'friction' in the design.

DVLevel and type of civic engagement (e.g., reflection, discussion, action).

CVUser's existing civic awareness, daily routine, context of use.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Provides a novel theoretical lens for understanding civic engagement design.
+Challenges conventional design thinking by advocating for 'friction'.

Limitations

Defining and measuring 'friction' and its direct impact on civic engagement can be challenging in a practical design project.

Reliability & validity

The theoretical nature of the paper means direct reliability and validity testing of its claims is not applicable without empirical research. The validity of the 'friction' concept relies on its theoretical coherence and potential for practical application.

Think critically

How can designers ensure that the 'friction' they introduce is constructive and leads to positive civic engagement, rather than simply causing frustration or disengagement?

Design Principles

"Integrate contestational friction into the everyday fabric of user experience to foster sustained civic engagement."

Traditional approaches to civic engagement often rely on specific, scheduled events, missing opportunities embedded in daily routines. By designing for 'friction,' designers can create subtle challenges or points of reflection that encourage users to question, engage with, and potentially contest aspects of their environment or societal norms, leading to more sustained and integrated participation.

What This Means for Your Design

Sometimes, making things a little bit harder or more thought-provoking in everyday life can actually make people think more about important issues and get more involved in their community.

How to use in your project

1.Use this paper to justify designing for 'friction' as a method to encourage deeper user engagement with a social or civic issue within your design project.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the potential of 'friction' in design to foster deeper civic engagement. By moving beyond frictionless user experiences, designers can create opportunities for reflection and contestation embedded within everyday interactions, thereby encouraging more meaningful participation in societal issues.

Source

Aarhus Series on Human Centered Computing

Creating Friction: Infrastructuring Civic Engagement in Everyday Life

journal · 2015

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about design for 'friction' to foster deeper civic engagement?: Designers should move beyond creating seamless, frictionless experiences and instead explore how to intentionally introduce 'friction' into everyday products and services to stimulate critical thought and active civic participation. Evidence: Aarhus Series on Human Centered Computing (2015).
Why does "Design for 'Friction' to Foster Deeper Civic Engagement" matter for design?: Traditional approaches to civic engagement often rely on specific, scheduled events, missing opportunities embedded in daily routines. By designing for 'friction,' designers can create subtle challenges or points of reflection that encourage users to question, engage with, and potentially contest aspects of their environment or societal norms, leading to more sustained and integrated participation.
How can designers apply this research?: Designers should move beyond creating seamless, frictionless experiences and instead explore how to intentionally introduce 'friction' into everyday products and services to stimulate critical thought and active civic participation.
What were the main findings?: There is a distinction between 'privileged moments' of civic engagement and a more holistic understanding of the everyday as 'product-residue'.. Infrastructures that create 'friction' through everyday use can provoke contestation and deeper civic engagement.. Current designs often focus on 'privileged moments' rather than embedding engagement within the fabric of daily life.
What research method was used?: Theoretical analysis and synthesis of existing research on contestational design, infrastructures of civic engagement, and theories of everyday life..
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2015 journal from Aarhus Series on Human Centered Computing.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing a public service interface, consider adding a small, optional step that asks users to reflect on a related societal issue, or when designing a community app, introduce a feature that highlights local debates or differing viewpoints, even if it slightly slows down the primary task.
What are the limitations?: The paper is theoretical and does not present empirical data from implemented designs. The concept of 'friction' is abstract and requires careful operationalization in practice.