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Designing for Meaning

Tim Gorichanaz (College of Computing and Informatics, Drexel University, USA)

Information Experience in Theory and Design

ISBN: 978-1-83909-369-2, eISBN: 978-1-83909-368-5

Publication date: 1 October 2020

Abstract

For all that many technology designers today gloss their work in terms of “creating meaningful experiences,” most design is focused on efficiency, productivity, self-indulgence, and pleasure-seeking, and little discussion has been had on what “meaningful experiences” actually means. Still, there is an opportunity and a need to design for meaning. In the research literature, there are some precedents for this, rooted in the Slow Technology movement. That research suggests, for instance, that personally meaningful designs should make space for evolution over time; be upgradeable, maintainable, and replaceable; and afford focused rather than distracting use. This work has room to be deepened and expanded. To begin, we can look to paradigms in psychology and philosophy for techniques to cultivate personal meaning: Life Review and poietic judgment. Two design strategies that emerge from this are noticing and purposing. But perhaps more important than following any particular strategies is the embodiment of a particular designerly mood conducive to engaging users with personal meaning.

Keywords

Citation

Gorichanaz, T. (2020), "Designing for Meaning", Information Experience in Theory and Design (Studies in Information, Vol. 14), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 145-157. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2055-537720200000014016

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

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