Integrating Function and Affordance Based Design Representations

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the possibility of reconciling and integrating practical affordanceand functionbased design representations. We present a classic functionbased design method and representation and argue for the benefits of augmenting it with affordancebased approaches. Building on existing function concept ontologies, we present an integrated approach to developing earlystage design representations. This approach combines the use of affordance and function representations to capture user needs across a device's life cycle. We demonstrate how affordances add rigor and expressiveness to the early stages of traditional design processes, and how traditional functionbased tools provide affordancebased design (ABD) with structured methods for concept generation. The integrated approach is illustrated with an example, in which a use case is explicitly decomposed to demonstrate the structure of relationships between users, goals, actions, artifacts, functions, and affordances.