Designed for unanticipated use: common artefacts as design principle for CSCW applications

Common artefacts have been identified as fundamental characteristics for framing activities in workplaces. Mike Robinson's article 'Design for unanticipated use...' conceptualised and defined the dimensions of common artefacts as consisting of predictability, peripheral awareness, implicit communication, double level language and overview. These dimensions have often been used in explaining unexpected uses of different applications and systems. In this paper, experiences from common artefacts as CSCW application design principles, indicating that unanticipated uses are expected and further supported, are discussed. Two distinct cases, a physical room and a software application, are presented, and some examples of the realisation of different dimensions are elaborated. It is concluded that the support for common artefacts can be designed, to a certain extent, and that such support can make applications more suitable for unanticipated uses.