A Making Mode Is Missing Code: Research Through Design Lacks Discourse Around Programming

Jussi Mikkonen*, Robb Mitchell

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Making programmable things, such as prototypes and other interactive physical artefacts, has inherent value for Research through Design inquiries. However, the intersection between programming and Research through Design appears to have received little attention. To investigate this issue, we conducted a literature review examining 51 papers. In nearly every case, the artefact’s program and the act of programming appear to be severely under-documented. It does not seem to matter where the code came from, what kind of responsiveness the behaviour has, how responsive the interaction is, or how the code maps to the perceived behaviour. Analysis of our corpus revealed six themes and three leverage points for supporting designerly research’s engagement with programming. We use these to offer recommendations to deepen and broaden the range of insights that may be articulated by Research through Design that involves interactive artefacts.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication [ ] With Design: Reinventing Design Modes. Proceedings of the 9th Congress of the International Association of Societies of Design Research (IASDR 2021)
Number of pages16
PublisherSpringer
Publication date2022
Pages2131-2147
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022
Event9th Congress of the International Association of Societies of Design Research - , Hong Kong
Duration: 5 Dec 20219 Dec 2021
Conference number: 9
https://www.iasdr2021.org/

Conference

Conference9th Congress of the International Association of Societies of Design Research
Number9
Country/TerritoryHong Kong
Period05/12/202109/12/2021
Internet address

Keywords

  • Research through design
  • Prototyping
  • Program
  • Programming
  • Coding
  • Literature review

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