Short answer

Design projects should explore how digital archiving can preserve and disseminate valuable design knowledge, extending its impact beyond the immediate project lifecycle.

Field: Innovation & Design
Source: Academic Publication (2010)
Method: Conceptual analysis and case study (Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics)
Evidence: Moderate effect

Digital technologies enable the preservation and dissemination of performance-based knowledge beyond its original temporal and spatial limitations. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2010 study published in Academic Publication. Using Conceptual analysis and case study (hemispheric institute of performance and politics), researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Design projects should explore how digital archiving can preserve and disseminate valuable design knowledge, extending its impact beyond the immediate project lifecycle.

Study

Innovation & DesignHigh ImpactModerate effect

Digital Archiving Extends the Reach of Embodied Knowledge

Digital technologies enable the preservation and dissemination of performance-based knowledge beyond its original temporal and spatial limitations.

Academic Publication · 2010

Key Findings

01Digital technologies allow for the creation of communities and publics that transcend local and national boundaries and temporal limitations.
02Digital innovations can be integrated with and extend the capabilities of earlier knowledge transmission technologies.
03Rethinking public scholarship requires considering embodied performance, archival preservation, and digital circulation.

Application

Design takeaway

Design projects should explore how digital archiving can preserve and disseminate valuable design knowledge, extending its impact beyond the immediate project lifecycle.

How to apply

When concluding a design project, consider developing a digital archive that captures key decisions, user feedback, and final outcomes, making it accessible to future teams or the wider design community.

Project actions

01Think about how your design process could be documented digitally.
02Consider who might benefit from accessing your design knowledge in the future.

Method & Evidence

AimHow do digital technologies alter the creation, transmission, and longevity of knowledge, particularly in fields like performance and design?

MethodConceptual analysis and case study (Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics)

ProcedureThe author examines the implications of digital media on scholarly practices, drawing on the experience of an online archive of performance work to illustrate how digital innovations interact with traditional methods of knowledge creation and dissemination.

ContextDigital humanities, performance studies, archival science, knowledge management

Variables

IVImplementation of digital archiving and transmission technologies.

DVAccessibility, longevity, and reach of design knowledge.

CVNature of the design knowledge being archived (e.g., process, outcome, user research).

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Provides a theoretical framework for understanding digital knowledge transmission.
+Connects digital practices to broader concepts of community and public scholarship.

Limitations

The focus is on scholarly and performance contexts, so direct application to product design might need careful consideration of what constitutes 'knowledge' in that domain.

Reliability & validity

The paper's findings are conceptual and based on an analysis of a specific initiative, rather than empirical data. Reliability would depend on the consistent application of digital archiving principles, and validity would be in the continued relevance and utility of such archives.

Think critically

How might the 'episteme' of digital circulation influence the very nature of design creation, potentially prioritizing shareability over other design values?

Design Principles

"Embrace digital archiving to ensure the enduring value and accessibility of design knowledge."

This insight challenges designers to consider how digital tools can be used to capture and share ephemeral or context-specific design processes and outcomes. It encourages thinking about creating accessible archives that foster broader understanding and future innovation.

What This Means for Your Design

Using computers and the internet helps us save and share things like performances or design ideas so people can see them later, even if they are far away or in the future.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this paper when discussing the importance of documenting and sharing design knowledge through digital means, especially for projects with long-term impact or collaborative potential.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

Diana Taylor's work highlights the transformative potential of digital technologies in preserving and disseminating knowledge, suggesting that design projects can benefit from creating accessible digital archives. This approach extends the reach of design insights beyond immediate project completion, fostering future innovation and collaboration by making embodied processes and outcomes available across temporal and spatial boundaries.

Source

Academic Publication

Save As... Knowledge and Transmission in the Age of Digital Technologies

journal · 2010

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about digital archiving extends the reach of embodied knowledge?: Design projects should explore how digital archiving can preserve and disseminate valuable design knowledge, extending its impact beyond the immediate project lifecycle. Evidence: Academic Publication (2010).
Why does "Digital Archiving Extends the Reach of Embodied Knowledge" matter for design?: This insight challenges designers to consider how digital tools can be used to capture and share ephemeral or context-specific design processes and outcomes. It encourages thinking about creating accessible archives that foster broader understanding and future innovation.
How can designers apply this research?: Design projects should explore how digital archiving can preserve and disseminate valuable design knowledge, extending its impact beyond the immediate project lifecycle.
What were the main findings?: Digital technologies allow for the creation of communities and publics that transcend local and national boundaries and temporal limitations.. Digital innovations can be integrated with and extend the capabilities of earlier knowledge transmission technologies.. Rethinking public scholarship requires considering embodied performance, archival preservation, and digital circulation.
What research method was used?: Conceptual analysis and case study (Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics).
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2010 journal from Academic Publication.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When concluding a design project, consider developing a digital archive that captures key decisions, user feedback, and final outcomes, making it accessible to future teams or the wider design community.
What are the limitations?: The paper focuses on performance and scholarly contexts, and direct application to all design fields may require adaptation. The rapid evolution of digital technologies means specific platforms discussed may become outdated.