Understanding representation: Contrasting gesture and sketching in design through dual-process theory

Philip Cash*, Anja M. Maier

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Representation is essential to design work. While there is a multitude of research on, for example, gesture, prototyping, and sketching, there is a critical need for a more general account of design representation, able to explain diverse results across representation modes and design tasks. We address this need by experimentally testing dual-process theory hypotheses regarding the impact of gesture and sketching on a range of design tasks, including reproduction, evaluation, elaboration, ideation, and selection. Central to this is the (mis)match between representation mode at input/response, and the interaction between Type 1 and Type 2 processing. These findings support a novel dual-process explanation of design representation, suggest resolutions to previously contradictory findings, and provide implications for design theory, education, and practice.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100992
JournalDesign Studies
Volume73
Early online date3 Feb 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • communication
  • conceptual design
  • design cognition
  • design representation
  • reasoning

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