Managing Knowledge Representation in Design

• Start date: 01 October 2003
• End date: 30 June 2006

Recent interest in material objects - the things of everyday interaction - has led to articulations of their role in the literatures on organisational knowledge and learning. What is missing is a sense of how the use of these ‘things’ is patterned across industrial settings and across time. Our research addresses this gap with a particular emphasis on visual materials. We analyse practices in two contrasting design settings, a capital goods manufacturer and an architectural firm, observing materials being treated both as frozen, and hence unavailable for change; and also as fluid, open and dynamic. In each setting, we find temporal patterns of unfreezing and refreezing associated with the different types of materials used. We suggest these differing patterns or rhythms of visual practice are important in the evolution of knowledge and in structuring social relations for delivery. Hence, to improve their performance, practitioners should not only consider the types of media they use, but they should also reflect on the pace and style of their interactions.