Short answer
When designing for social good, view perceived 'gaps' not as failures to be bridged, but as complex, multi-faceted realities to be understood and worked with, fostering emergent possibilities rather than aiming for a singular, idealized outcome.
- Field
- Innovation & Design
- Source
- Postdigital Science and Education (2023)
- Method
- Qualitative research, drawing on feminist science and technology studies, ethnographic study, and theoretical analysis.
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Reconceptualizing 'design-reality gaps' as complex, entangled multiplicities rather than simple voids can lead to more nuanced and ethically grounded design futures. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Postdigital Science and Education. Using Qualitative research, drawing on feminist science and technology studies, ethnographic study, and theoretical analysis., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing for social good, view perceived 'gaps' not as failures to be bridged, but as complex, multi-faceted realities to be understood and worked with, fostering emergent possibilities rather than aiming for a singular, idealized outcome.
Design-Reality Gaps are Multiplicities, Not Singular Divides
Reconceptualizing 'design-reality gaps' as complex, entangled multiplicities rather than simple voids can lead to more nuanced and ethically grounded design futures.
Postdigital Science and Education · 2023
Key Findings
- 01The 'design-reality gap' is not a singular void but a complex entanglement of sociomaterial practices that enact multiple desired futures.
- 02Approaching difference as an ever-growing assemblage, rather than a lack, can foster desire-based theories of change.
- 03A 'speculative commitment' in design research can generate new ethical questions and logics for living with technology.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing for social good, view perceived 'gaps' not as failures to be bridged, but as complex, multi-faceted realities to be understood and worked with, fostering emergent possibilities rather than aiming for a singular, idealized outcome.
How to apply
When evaluating the success of a design intervention, analyze the emergent practices and unintended consequences not as failures, but as indicators of a complex reality with multiple potential futures. Use this understanding to iterate and refine the design with a focus on fostering positive desires.
Project actions
- 01When identifying a problem, consider the underlying sociomaterial practices rather than just the surface-level discrepancy.
- 02Frame your design goals around desired futures and the potential for positive emergence, not just fixing a perceived deficit.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Offers a novel and nuanced theoretical framework for understanding design challenges.
- +Integrates critical perspectives from feminist science and technology studies.
Limitations
It can be challenging to move beyond a problem-focused mindset to one that embraces emergent multiplicities, and defining 'social good' can be subjective.
Reliability & validity
The validity lies in the theoretical depth and critical engagement with existing literature. Reliability would depend on the consistent application of the theoretical framework in analyzing case studies.
Think critically
How might a designer actively cultivate 'speculative commitment' in their design process to uncover and ethically engage with emergent futures?
Design Principles
"Embrace the multiplicity of sociomaterial practices in design-reality interactions to foster generative and ethically grounded futures."
This perspective shift encourages designers to move beyond a deficit-based approach to problem-solving. By acknowledging the intricate sociomaterial practices that shape technology adoption, designers can develop more robust and contextually relevant solutions that foster genuine social good.
What This Means for Your Design
Instead of thinking of a gap between what you design and how people use it as a simple problem, think of it as a complicated mix of things that creates many different outcomes. Focusing on what people want and the possibilities that arise from these differences can lead to better designs.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this research when discussing the complexities of user adoption and the limitations of purely functional design, particularly in contexts aiming for social impact.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research posits that 'design-reality gaps' should be understood not as singular voids but as complex, entangled multiplicities of sociomaterial practices that enact diverse futures. This perspective encourages a shift from damage-oriented theories of change to those based on desire, viewing difference as a generative assemblage. Applying this to design practice means moving beyond a deficit-based approach to problem-solving and instead embracing the nuanced realities of technology adoption to foster more ethically grounded and impactful design futures.
Source
Postdigital Science and Education
Theorizing ‘The Gap’ Twenty Years Later: Global Development, Design, and Speculative Ethics in Edtech Research
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about design-reality gaps are multiplicities, not singular divides?
- When designing for social good, view perceived 'gaps' not as failures to be bridged, but as complex, multi-faceted realities to be understood and worked with, fostering emergent possibilities rather than aiming for a singular, idealized outcome. Evidence: Postdigital Science and Education (2023).
- Why does "Design-Reality Gaps are Multiplicities, Not Singular Divides" matter for design?
- This perspective shift encourages designers to move beyond a deficit-based approach to problem-solving. By acknowledging the intricate sociomaterial practices that shape technology adoption, designers can develop more robust and contextually relevant solutions that foster genuine social good.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing for social good, view perceived 'gaps' not as failures to be bridged, but as complex, multi-faceted realities to be understood and worked with, fostering emergent possibilities rather than aiming for a singular, idealized outcome.
- What were the main findings?
- The 'design-reality gap' is not a singular void but a complex entanglement of sociomaterial practices that enact multiple desired futures.. Approaching difference as an ever-growing assemblage, rather than a lack, can foster desire-based theories of change.. A 'speculative commitment' in design research can generate new ethical questions and logics for living with technology.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative research, drawing on feminist science and technology studies, ethnographic study, and theoretical analysis..
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from Postdigital Science and Education.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When evaluating the success of a design intervention, analyze the emergent practices and unintended consequences not as failures, but as indicators of a complex reality with multiple potential futures. Use this understanding to iterate and refine the design with a focus on fostering positive desires.
- What are the limitations?
- The research is theoretical and draws on specific past case studies, which may not be universally generalizable without further empirical testing in diverse contexts.