Design StudiesPub Date : 2025-10-21DOI: 10.1016/j.destud.2025.101356
Stefano Moroni, Anita De Franco
{"title":"On the multiplicity of artifacts: A typology including regulatory artifacts","authors":"Stefano Moroni, Anita De Franco","doi":"10.1016/j.destud.2025.101356","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.destud.2025.101356","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There are various studies on specific types of artifacts. Many of them have focused on “technical artifacts” and “cognitive artifacts”; and, more recently, other studies have examined “regulatory artifacts”. However, a general typology is still lacking. This article aims to build such a typological framework based on the identification of three macro-categories of artifacts – i.e. behaviour-supporting, behaviour-engaging, and behaviour-influencing – and on the identification of ten sub-categories within them: (i) descriptive artifacts; (ii) technical artifacts; (iii) cognitive artifacts; (iv) detecting artifacts; (v) ludic artifacts; (vi) artistic artifacts; (vii) status artifacts; (viii) deontic artifacts; (ix) constitutive artifacts; (x) steering artifacts. On the basis of this typology, five points are highlighted. First, the suggested typology illustrates how many human activities are mediated by some kind of artifact; we could say that artifacts have not only been the product of human intelligence but they have also been an active trigger of it. Second, the proposed typology sheds light on the fact that artifacts can perform not only traditionally, widely discussed technical or cognitive functions but also regulatory ones. Third, if regulatory artifacts are also considered, the maker's intentionality is confirmed as being of central importance in defining what artifacts are. Fourth, the proposed typology shows that the different types of artifacts produce their effects in different ways: in certain cases, their performance is for instance mainly based on causal mechanisms, whilst in other cases on mainly symbolic mechanisms. Fifth, the typology illuminates significant differences between humans and animals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50593,"journal":{"name":"Design Studies","volume":"101 ","pages":"Article 101356"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145363219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Design StudiesPub Date : 2025-09-30DOI: 10.1016/j.destud.2025.101354
Abdullah Eren Demirel, Mualla Erkılıç
{"title":"Mapping the inclusive design literature in the built environment: Towards an expanded experiential definition of inclusivity","authors":"Abdullah Eren Demirel, Mualla Erkılıç","doi":"10.1016/j.destud.2025.101354","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.destud.2025.101354","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper offers an expanded conceptualization of <em>inclusive design</em> philosophy in the built environment by mapping some of the key literature in the last two decades. Grounded on fundamental concepts of equity, accessibility, and diversity, inclusivity emphasizes providing equal opportunities for the broadest possible audience while accounting for differences. Despite the shared universal aspirations, conceptual ambiguities surrounding inclusivity persist across various spatial studies. Literature mapping on the inclusivity of the built environment through main themes and approaches reveals a shift from early inquiries into the environments’ disabling physical characteristics toward an expanded epistemological ground constructed on users' socio-spatial experiences and engagement. In response, the paper articulates a conceptual framework for understanding the experiential dimension of inclusivity based on agency and participation through a new materialist perspective.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50593,"journal":{"name":"Design Studies","volume":"101 ","pages":"Article 101354"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Design StudiesPub Date : 2025-09-01DOI: 10.1016/j.destud.2025.101342
Genevieve Mosely, Lina Markauskaite, Jason M. Lodge, Cara Wrigley
{"title":"The role of expertise in design facilitation practice: A systematic review","authors":"Genevieve Mosely, Lina Markauskaite, Jason M. Lodge, Cara Wrigley","doi":"10.1016/j.destud.2025.101342","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.destud.2025.101342","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Many organisations are now adopting design across their systems to drive innovation, leading to the emergence of new professional design roles, requiring the implementation of design methods and facilitation of design processes. However, rarely do studies draw together the specific expertise required for design facilitation. To address this gap, we present a systematic literature review of empirical research, following a PRISMA framework, focusing on what has been established and the methodological research approaches used to characterise the role of expertise in facilitating design interventions. The paper conceptualises design facilitation expertise as emerging from the continuous interaction between the facilitator’s individual agency and the practice architectures that shape the facilitation environment, emphasising its generative and co-constructed nature. This reconceptualisation highlights the need for facilitation expertise to be understood as an evolving and situated practice, shaping how facilitation is researched, taught, and developed across design education and professional practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50593,"journal":{"name":"Design Studies","volume":"100 ","pages":"Article 101342"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144931733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Design StudiesPub Date : 2025-08-26DOI: 10.1016/j.destud.2025.101334
Jane Toner, Kimberley Reis, Harry Kanasa, Samantha Hayes, Dominique Hes, Cheryl Desha
{"title":"Sensing place-based ecological knowledge for regenerative development and design","authors":"Jane Toner, Kimberley Reis, Harry Kanasa, Samantha Hayes, Dominique Hes, Cheryl Desha","doi":"10.1016/j.destud.2025.101334","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.destud.2025.101334","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Regenerative paradigms seek to realign the built environment with living systems by activating the capacity of communities and ecosystems to coevolve in mutually beneficial ways. Supporting regenerative outcomes, this study introduces a Community Nature (Re)Connection Workshop as a place-based approach to engaging communities through the ecology of place. Informed by experiential and social collective learning theories, and inspired by biomimicry, the pilot workshop was iteratively refined through participant feedback. Quantitative analysis of pre- and post-workshop surveys demonstrated its potential to significantly strengthen participants’ sense of connection to nature, heighten interest in continued learning, and deepen appreciation of local ecology. The workshop’s experiential approach supports ecoliteracy as a foundation for place-based community engagement, ecologically informed regenerative outcomes, and community capacity-building for stewardship.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50593,"journal":{"name":"Design Studies","volume":"100 ","pages":"Article 101334"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144895604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Design StudiesPub Date : 2025-08-01DOI: 10.1016/j.destud.2025.101333
Wei Yue, Jiahui Shen, Chun-Cheng Hsu
{"title":"Ritual design in digital age: A comprehensive analysis of development and trend","authors":"Wei Yue, Jiahui Shen, Chun-Cheng Hsu","doi":"10.1016/j.destud.2025.101333","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.destud.2025.101333","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To systematically summarize the ritual design research in digital age, a content analysis of 161 relevant articles was conducted, revealing the interdisciplinary nature of the field with seven keyword clusters and four high-frequency keywords. Ritual design research is predominantly constructivist and practice-oriented. A framework for analysing ritual design types was proposed, highlighting ‘Design of ritual’ on secular affairs, especially in individual daily life and ‘Design for ritual’ for collectives on religious affairs as emerging research themes. Additionally, ritual design is expanding within Human–Computer Interaction. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of existing research on ritual design, analysing multiple dimensions such as epistemological positions, knowledge types, design types, and design practices. It also serves as a valuable reference for future researchers, particularly in the areas of theoretical constructs, design methods, and design practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50593,"journal":{"name":"Design Studies","volume":"100 ","pages":"Article 101333"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144749210","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Design StudiesPub Date : 2025-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.destud.2025.101330
Derya Karadağ
{"title":"Pre-occupancy evaluation of wayfinding signage using immersive virtual reality","authors":"Derya Karadağ","doi":"10.1016/j.destud.2025.101330","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.destud.2025.101330","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores how alternative wayfinding signage designs influence user experience within immersive virtual environments during early-stage architectural evaluation. A 3D model of a university building’s ground floor was developed and experienced through head-mounted displays (HMDs) to simulate spatial conditions. Eighteen participants completed structured navigation tasks in two signage settings, followed by post-task surveys and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data—task completion times and circulation paths—were analysed alongside thematic evaluations of user feedback. Findings reveal that signage design affects spatial perception, navigational efficiency, and user satisfaction. The study shows that early-stage VR testing supports user-informed design decisions, especially for evaluating signage-based spatial strategies and related user experience considerations. VR emerges as a practical tool for integrating user-centred feedback into the pre-occupancy phase of spatial planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50593,"journal":{"name":"Design Studies","volume":"99 ","pages":"Article 101330"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144685727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Design StudiesPub Date : 2025-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.destud.2025.101326
Pablo Wikander, Damian Collins, Joshua Evans
{"title":"Researching collaborative housing through design: A case study of co-design workshops involving low-income recent immigrants in Canada","authors":"Pablo Wikander, Damian Collins, Joshua Evans","doi":"10.1016/j.destud.2025.101326","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.destud.2025.101326","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Canada's housing crisis affects low-income immigrants seeking affordable housing. One option for increasing affordability is collaborative housing. However, for collaborative housing to be adequate for immigrants, it is critical to know what designs meet their needs. This study used co-design workshops with low-income recent immigrants in Canada to explore their housing pathways, needs and preferences. Participants developed artefacts corresponding to their dream homes, to minimum acceptable housing, and to collaborative housing. These artefacts were digitally translated into five core models of collaborative housing. The results show that the Research Through Design approach, combined with co-design methods, can be used effectively to identify models of collaborative housing for low-income recent immigrants and to envision alternative housing futures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50593,"journal":{"name":"Design Studies","volume":"99 ","pages":"Article 101326"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144597435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Beyond the visuals: Sri Lankan stamp designers personalized approach in postage stamp design","authors":"Dulshan Ellawela, Sumith Gopura, Ayesha Wickramasinghe, Tiziana Ferrero-Regis","doi":"10.1016/j.destud.2025.101332","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.destud.2025.101332","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Postage stamps are significant visual artefacts that represent culture and identity. The illustrations on stamps frequently embody diverse approaches to narrating cultural heritage and historical narratives. Sri Lankan designers' lifeworlds - backgrounds, education, and experiences intrinsically shape these approaches. Through an inductive analysis of semi-structured interviews with six designers, this study identifies key themes, including background, mentorship, and the interaction between formal and informal education, and experiential learning in shaping their creative processes in stamp design. Further to the findings anchored in the Concept-Knowledge (C–K) Theory, the study highlights a framework for interpreting the Design Learning and Thinking in stamp design, offering valuable insights into how designers from diverse backgrounds negotiate personal and cultural identity in their creative endeavours.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50593,"journal":{"name":"Design Studies","volume":"99 ","pages":"Article 101332"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144722134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Design StudiesPub Date : 2025-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.destud.2025.101329
Shiva Ghaznavi, Farzin Haghparast, Ali Pourahmad Ghalejough, Hesam Sakian Mohamadi
{"title":"Implementing user-centered design in architecture using virtual reality: A case study of a micro coworking space","authors":"Shiva Ghaznavi, Farzin Haghparast, Ali Pourahmad Ghalejough, Hesam Sakian Mohamadi","doi":"10.1016/j.destud.2025.101329","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.destud.2025.101329","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The evolving nature of workspaces, shaped by technological advancements and modern demands, necessitates innovative design approaches that prioritize the needs of employees. This study adapts user-centered design principles, traditionally applied to digital products, to architecture, integrating these principles within an iterative design process model for coworking spaces enhanced by virtual reality. The research investigates user preferences, spatial satisfaction, and movement patterns at the Tabriz Islamic Art University Incubator, involving users in the design process through virtual reality prototyping to develop and refine design alternatives. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of user-centered design and virtual reality within the proposed model in shaping coworking environments that align with user needs, leading to more responsive and satisfactory architectural solutions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50593,"journal":{"name":"Design Studies","volume":"99 ","pages":"Article 101329"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144714166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}