Objects of Design: Activity Theory as an analytical framework for Design and Social Innovation

Cyril Tjahja; Joyce Yee; Mersha Aftab

doi:10.21606/dma.2017.120

Objects of Design: Activity Theory as an analytical framework for Design and Social Innovation

Cyril Tjahja, Joyce Yee, Mersha Aftab

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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Abstract

Design and social innovation is a developing field of study. The current lack of critical analysis of initiatives and the dominance of insights and methods from European cases in academic literature are not sufficient to construct an image that could be considered as comprehensive. This paper aims to address both issues by introducing Activity Theory as an analytical framework, as its ability to examine phenomena in their native context through multiple perspectives is considered to be well-suited to study design and social innovation initiatives. The analysis of data obtained during a field study investigating three social initiatives in Bangkok contributed to understanding how they work and why they exist, in addition to highlighting the influence of the Thai social and cultural context on the role of design in the social innovation process.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Conference Proceedings of the Design Management Academy 2017
Subtitle of host publication	Research Perspectives on Creative Intersections
Editors	Erik Bohemia, Cees de Bont, Lisbeth Svengren Holm
Publisher	The Design Society
Pages	931
Number of pages	947
Volume	3
ISBN (Print)	9781912294138
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.21606/dma.2017.120
Publication status	Published - 7 Jun 2017
Event	Design Management Academy Conference 2017 - Hong Kong, China Duration: 8 Jun 2017 → … http://designmanagementacademy.com/dma2017/

Publication series

Name	Conference Proceedings of the Design Management Academy
Publisher	Design Management Academy
Volume	2514-8419

Conference

Conference	Design Management Academy Conference 2017
Period	8/06/17 → …
Internet address	http://designmanagementacademy.com/dma2017/

Keywords

design and social innovation
activity theory
Thailand
methodology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.21606/dma.2017.120Licence: CC BY-NC-SA

Tjahja et al - Objects of DesignFinal published version, 1.34 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-SA

Cite this

Tjahja, C., Yee, J., & Aftab, M. (2017). Objects of Design: Activity Theory as an analytical framework for Design and Social Innovation. In E. Bohemia, C. de Bont, & L. Svengren Holm (Eds.), Conference Proceedings of the Design Management Academy 2017: Research Perspectives on Creative Intersections (Vol. 3, pp. 931). (Conference Proceedings of the Design Management Academy; Vol. 2514-8419). The Design Society. https://doi.org/10.21606/dma.2017.120

Tjahja, Cyril ; Yee, Joyce ; Aftab, Mersha. / Objects of Design : Activity Theory as an analytical framework for Design and Social Innovation. Conference Proceedings of the Design Management Academy 2017: Research Perspectives on Creative Intersections. editor / Erik Bohemia ; Cees de Bont ; Lisbeth Svengren Holm. Vol. 3 The Design Society, 2017. pp. 931 (Conference Proceedings of the Design Management Academy).

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abstract = "Design and social innovation is a developing field of study. The current lack of critical analysis of initiatives and the dominance of insights and methods from European cases in academic literature are not sufficient to construct an image that could be considered as comprehensive. This paper aims to address both issues by introducing Activity Theory as an analytical framework, as its ability to examine phenomena in their native context through multiple perspectives is considered to be well-suited to study design and social innovation initiatives. The analysis of data obtained during a field study investigating three social initiatives in Bangkok contributed to understanding how they work and why they exist, in addition to highlighting the influence of the Thai social and cultural context on the role of design in the social innovation process.",

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Tjahja, C, Yee, J & Aftab, M 2017, Objects of Design: Activity Theory as an analytical framework for Design and Social Innovation. in E Bohemia, C de Bont & L Svengren Holm (eds), Conference Proceedings of the Design Management Academy 2017: Research Perspectives on Creative Intersections. vol. 3, Conference Proceedings of the Design Management Academy, vol. 2514-8419, The Design Society, pp. 931, Design Management Academy Conference 2017, 8/06/17. https://doi.org/10.21606/dma.2017.120

Objects of Design: Activity Theory as an analytical framework for Design and Social Innovation. / Tjahja, Cyril; Yee, Joyce; Aftab, Mersha.
Conference Proceedings of the Design Management Academy 2017: Research Perspectives on Creative Intersections. ed. / Erik Bohemia; Cees de Bont; Lisbeth Svengren Holm. Vol. 3 The Design Society, 2017. p. 931 (Conference Proceedings of the Design Management Academy; Vol. 2514-8419).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AB - Design and social innovation is a developing field of study. The current lack of critical analysis of initiatives and the dominance of insights and methods from European cases in academic literature are not sufficient to construct an image that could be considered as comprehensive. This paper aims to address both issues by introducing Activity Theory as an analytical framework, as its ability to examine phenomena in their native context through multiple perspectives is considered to be well-suited to study design and social innovation initiatives. The analysis of data obtained during a field study investigating three social initiatives in Bangkok contributed to understanding how they work and why they exist, in addition to highlighting the influence of the Thai social and cultural context on the role of design in the social innovation process.

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Tjahja C, Yee J, Aftab M. Objects of Design: Activity Theory as an analytical framework for Design and Social Innovation. In Bohemia E, de Bont C, Svengren Holm L, editors, Conference Proceedings of the Design Management Academy 2017: Research Perspectives on Creative Intersections. Vol. 3. The Design Society. 2017. p. 931. (Conference Proceedings of the Design Management Academy). doi: 10.21606/dma.2017.120

Objects of Design: Activity Theory as an analytical framework for Design and Social Innovation

Abstract

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Conference

Keywords

UN SDGs

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