Design and Anthropology: Building Relations Between Designing and Using

Wendy Gunn (Editor), Jared Donovan (Editor)

Research output: Book/ReportEdited Bookpeer-review

Abstract

Design and Anthropology challenges conventional thinking regarding the nature of design and creativity, in a way that acknowledges the improvisatory skills and perceptual acuity of people. Combining theoretical investigations and documentation of practice based experiments, it addresses methodological questions concerning the re-conceptualisation of the relation between design and use from both theoretical and practice-based positions. Concerned with what it means to draw 'users' into processes of designing and producing this book emphasises the creativity of design and the emergence of objects in social situations and collaborative endeavours. Organised around the themes of perception and the user-producer, skilled practices of designing and using, and the relation between people and things, the book contains the latest work of researchers from academia and industry, to enhance our understanding of ethnographic practice and develop a research agenda for the emergent field of design anthropology. Drawing together work from anthropologists, philosophers, designers, engineers, scholars of innovation and theatre practitioners, Design and Anthropology will appeal to anthropologists and to those working in the fields of design and innovation, and the philosophy of technology and engineering.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationOxon, UK
PublisherAshgate Publishing Limited
Number of pages288
ISBN (Print)9781409421580
Publication statusPublished - 2012
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameAnthropological Studies of Creativity and Perception
PublisherRoutledge

Keywords

  • Design
  • Anthropology
  • Creativity
  • Perception

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