Reflections on Designing in the Wild: How Theories of Design Information Manifest in Practice

Abstract

Information acquisition, utilization, and communication are integral to the design process, but systematic investigation of information behavior is complicated by its variety and the ways in which designers engage with information throughout the design process. Our previous work developed a theoretical framework to categorize the various types of information used during the design process, known as the Information Archetypes Framework. This article explores how these information dimensions manifest in design practice, as reflected on by experienced practicing designers. Deep qualitative analysis of eight interviews with practicing designers revealed that the designers intentionally adapt their behavior to match situation specific needs and navigate the tensions between information dimensions through trajectories and loops.