Jon Kolko » Interaction design and design synthesis.

Published in interactions magazine

Designers, who have for years been called upon to design a single object or product, are now being asked to design entire systems, to explore experiences and emotion, and to take on large-scale social problems—so-called wicked problems. This requires a shift in skills, and with this shift has come a change in expectations by both designers themselves and the ecosystem of disciplines that surround them. The shift in expectations has not necessarily been positive. For although designers can now reap the benefits of increased salary, more control, a larger selection of meaningful projects, and professional recognition, they must also pay the price of increased chaos, complexity, and challenge in their work. Anecdotal evidence has shown me that both practicing designers and students of design are simply intimidated by the responsibility and scale of design problems. They are, in a word, overwhelmed by what is expected of them.

Keep reading...

Design For Impact (.pdf)

Presented at UX London, 2012, and IxDSA Brazil, 2011

Wicked Problems: Problems Worth Solving
Published by Austin Center for Design in March, 2012
ISBN ISBN 978-0-61559-31-5-9
Exposing the Magic of Design: A Practitioner's Guide to the Methods and Theory of Synthesis
Published by Oxford University Press in January, 2011.
ISBN 978-0-19974-433-6.
Thoughts on Interaction Design, Second Edition
Published by Morgan Kaufmann in January, 2011.
ISBN 978-0-12380-930-8.
Thoughts on Interaction Design, First Edition
Published by Brown Bear LLC, March, 2007.
ISBN 097-8853806.

. Pecha Kucha # 9.

2012

Design, in the Big and Small
Published in interactions magazine, July/August, 2012

Changing the Career Outcomes of Design Education
Published in interactions magazine, March/April, 2012

2011

Craftsmanship
Published in interactions magazine, November/December, 2011

Stupid, Stupid Client
Published in UX Magazine, August, 2011

The Conflicting Rhetoric of Design Education
Published in interactions magazine, July/August, 2011

Endless Nights - Learning from Design Studio Critique
Published in interactions magazine, March/April, 2011

How Do You Transform Good Research Into Great Innovations?
Published in Fast Company, January 12, 2011

Cultural Values That Will Make Your Office an Idea Factory
Part 2 of 3: A description of the cultural values that support synthesis.

When Trying to Invent, Being Objective Can Cripple Your Process
Published in Fast Company, January 27, 2011

Unveiling the Magic of Design: The Role of Synthesis In a new window...
Published in Rotman Magazine, Winter, 2011.

2010

On Academic Knowledge Production
Published in interactions magazine, September, 2010.

On Education
Published in interactions magazine, July, 2010.

On Language and Potential
Published in interactions magazine, May, 2010.

Sensemaking and Framing: A Theoretical Reflection on Perspective in Design Synthesis
Published in 2010 Design Research Society conference proceedings.

Designing in the Face of Change: The Elusive Push Towards Emotionally Resonant Experiences In a new window...
Published in The New Review of Hypermedia and Multimedia, published by Taylor and Francis.

Abductive Thinking and Sensemaking: The Drivers of Design Synthesis
Published in MIT's Design Issues, 26:1, Winter 2010.

2009

The Authenticity Problem
Published in interactions magazine, November/December, 2009.

On Hopelessness and Hope
Published in interactions magazine, July, 2009.

Our Misguided Focus on Brand and User Experience
Published on Johnny Holland, December 1st, 2009.

2008

The Appearance of Influence In a new window...
Published in Design Mind, issue 10

2007

The Tenuous Relationship Between Design and Innovation
Published in Artifact Magazine, Volume 1, issue 3.

Information Architecture and Design Strategy: The Importance of Synthesis during the Process of Design.
Published in the IDSA 2007 Conference.

Information Architecture: Synthesis Techniques for the Muddy Middle of the Design Process
Published in the 23rd International Conference on the Beginning Design Student.

2005

Design as Communication: The Increasing Case for Literacy in Academia
Published in the IDSA 2005 Conference.

New Techniques in Industrial Design Education
Published in the 6th International Conference of the European Academy of Design.

TRIBA: A Cable Television Retrieval and Awareness System In a new window...
Published in the 2005 Computer/Human Interaction Conference proceedings.

2004

Mixing Disciplines in Anticipation of Convergence: A Curriculum for Teaching Interaction Design to Industrial Designers
Published in Interactions Magazine.

2003

User-Driven Brand Design : Establishing a Convergent Brand Experience
Published in Tweak, Q4/03.