Author: Michael Arnold Mages

Chronos: clock time Kairos: the opportune moment for something

When thinking about designing with future states, a designer might consider the future in the following meaningful units. Possible futures include anything that may potentially happen. Possible futures include anything out to the level of bizarre science-fiction or what the most shocking imaginary can muster. Possible futures would include events that are exceedingly rare, similar… Continue reading Futures

Viewing the design process as a series of conceptual shifts on the path to the domain of acceptable responses.

n. A disposition of embodied habits, and ways of perceiving/acting in the world that are acquired through life experience, culture, and social context. Habitus are ingrained ways of thinking and doing that are part of a shared cultural fabric. They are internalized structures that are built over time, are long-lasting, and are components of how… Continue reading Habitus

Systematic gathering of objectively perceptible facts at the time of their occurrence, for example, to detect usability problems. While observing in the research study, we try to understand the context of the situation. For instance, when conducting a non-participant study, we study and annotate their movement pattern, their actions and their body language. Conducting a… Continue reading Observation/Surveillance

FundamentalHuman Needs Being(qualities) Having(things) Doing(actions) Interacting(settings) subsistence physical and mental health, equilibrium, adaptability food, shelter, work feed, procreate, clothe, rest, work living environment,social setting protection care, adaptability, autonomy, equilibrium, solidarity insurance systems, savings, social security,health systems, rights, family, work co-operate, plan, take care of, cure, help living space, social environment, dwelling affection self-esteem, solidarity, respect,… Continue reading Need

Participation is closely related to other concepts that pertain to decision-making such as agency and power. The levels of participation described in Sherry Arnstein’s ladder of participation foreground who has power in decision-making situations. In Arnstein’s model favors the 3 levels of participation denoted as “citizen power”. However, other models of participation assign greater value… Continue reading Participation

the period of time during which something changes from one state or stage to another. Design is not just about visuals and aesthetics. Design is also about how it interacts and functions at different states of time. Transitions help users understand the pace and flow of an interface. Nothing feels more unnatural than a sudden change, because sudden changes just… Continue reading Transition