Short answer

Incorporate the creation of tangible, everyday artifacts that embody speculative futures or counterfactual scenarios into your design process to foster critical reflection and explore potential implications.

Field: Innovation & Design
Source: Aarhus Series on Human Centered Computing (2015)
Method: Case study and artifact analysis
Evidence: Moderate effect

Designing with actual, situated artifacts can serve as a powerful method for critically exploring potential futures and questioning current design trajectories. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2015 study published in Aarhus Series on Human Centered Computing. Using Case study and artifact analysis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Incorporate the creation of tangible, everyday artifacts that embody speculative futures or counterfactual scenarios into your design process to foster critical reflection and explore potential implications.

Study

Innovation & DesignHigh ImpactModerate effect

Material Speculation: Using Real Artifacts for Critical Design Inquiry

Designing with actual, situated artifacts can serve as a powerful method for critically exploring potential futures and questioning current design trajectories.

Aarhus Series on Human Centered Computing · 2015

Key Findings

01Actual, situated artifacts can be used as a method for critical inquiry into futures.
02Material speculation complements existing speculative and fictional design approaches.
03Artifacts can embody counterfactuals and explore 'possible worlds' in a tangible way.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

Develop a prototype or a mock-up of a product or system that represents a plausible, yet critically examined, future scenario. Place this artifact in a relevant context and observe or gather feedback on how it prompts reflection and discussion about its implications.

Project actions

01When exploring future concepts, consider creating a physical or digital artifact that embodies your speculation.
02Think about how to 'place' this artifact in a context where it can be observed and discussed to provoke critical thought.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can the creation and use of actual, situated design artifacts serve as a method for critical inquiry into potential futures within interaction design?

MethodCase study and artifact analysis

ProcedureThe researchers proposed and exemplified the concept of 'material speculation' by presenting five interaction design artifacts. These artifacts were designed and situated within everyday contexts to act as sites for critical reflection on possible futures, drawing parallels to literary theories of possible worlds and counterfactual thinking.

ContextInteraction Design and Human-Computer Interaction research

Variables

IVUse of actual, situated design artifacts for critical inquiry.

DVDepth and nature of critical inquiry into potential futures.

CVContext of artifact placement, intended audience for reflection.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Provides a tangible and relatable method for exploring abstract future concepts.
+Encourages deeper engagement and critical reflection from stakeholders.

Limitations

It can be challenging to ensure that the speculative artifact is clearly understood and effectively provokes the intended critical inquiry.

Reliability & validity

Reliability would be low as the interpretation of 'critical inquiry' is subjective. Validity could be moderate if clear criteria for 'critical reflection' are established and observed.

Think critically

How can the 'material' aspect of speculation be leveraged to address potential biases or unintended consequences that might be overlooked in purely digital or conceptual explorations?

Design Principles

"Ground speculative futures in tangible, situated artifacts to enable critical inquiry."

This approach moves beyond purely conceptual or fictional explorations by grounding critical inquiry in tangible objects. It allows designers and researchers to engage with the implications of future technologies and societal shifts in a more concrete and relatable manner, fostering deeper reflection and more nuanced design decisions.

What This Means for Your Design

Instead of just talking about future ideas, make a real object that shows a possible future or a 'what if' scenario. This makes people think more deeply about the consequences of design choices.

How to use in your project

1.Use material speculation as a method to explore the implications of your design choices for future scenarios.
2.Document the creation of your speculative artifact and the discussions or reflections it generated.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The concept of material speculation, as explored by Wakkary et al. (2015), suggests that the creation of actual, situated design artifacts can serve as a powerful method for critical inquiry into potential futures. By grounding speculative concepts in tangible objects within everyday contexts, designers can facilitate deeper reflection on the implications of technological advancements and societal shifts, moving beyond purely theoretical explorations to engage with concrete 'possible worlds' and counterfactual scenarios.

Source

Aarhus Series on Human Centered Computing

Material Speculation: Actual Artifacts for Critical Inquiry

journal · 2015

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about material speculation: using real artifacts for critical design inquiry?: Incorporate the creation of tangible, everyday artifacts that embody speculative futures or counterfactual scenarios into your design process to foster critical reflection and explore potential implications. Evidence: Aarhus Series on Human Centered Computing (2015).
Why does "Material Speculation: Using Real Artifacts for Critical Design Inquiry" matter for design?: This approach moves beyond purely conceptual or fictional explorations by grounding critical inquiry in tangible objects. It allows designers and researchers to engage with the implications of future technologies and societal shifts in a more concrete and relatable manner, fostering deeper reflection and more nuanced design decisions.
How can designers apply this research?: Incorporate the creation of tangible, everyday artifacts that embody speculative futures or counterfactual scenarios into your design process to foster critical reflection and explore potential implications.
What were the main findings?: Actual, situated artifacts can be used as a method for critical inquiry into futures.. Material speculation complements existing speculative and fictional design approaches.. Artifacts can embody counterfactuals and explore 'possible worlds' in a tangible way.
What research method was used?: Case study and artifact analysis.
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?: Develop a prototype or a mock-up of a product or system that represents a plausible, yet critically examined, future scenario. Place this artifact in a relevant context and observe or gather feedback on how it prompts reflection and discussion about its implications.
What are the limitations?: The effectiveness of material speculation may depend on the artifact's ability to clearly communicate its speculative intent and provoke meaningful reflection.