Instructions for Design and Designs for Conversation

Abstract

Effective conversation occurs when beliefs are negotiated through interaction and evolve via goals. Concurrently, goals are negotiated and evolve through interaction. Such conversations are processes of design. Similarly, design—where proposed constructions are negotiated and evolve toward goals, while goals for the design are negotiated and evolve—is a process of conversation. Outcomes from such activities are greatly facilitated, in my view, from an understanding of Pask’s two main frameworks from conversation theory: a structure for the architecture of conversations and a schema for modeling the evolution of conversations. My conviction is that these can be used to mirror how design happens. This begs the question, can it help designers design? Yes, I believe it can. This paper offers a review of Pask’s frameworks and discusses their application in theory and practice.