Abstract

In the design research literature, most of the models proposed to describe design are prescriptive rather than descriptive. This results in the construction of design rationales not necessarily corresponding to the design reality and subsequently not helpful for the designers to improve their communication. The use of the Activity theory as a base for codifying, qualifying and analysing the cognitive actions that emerge between designers and other designers and/or artefacts emerges as an alternative option. The goal of this paper is to provide an overview of the methodological frameworks built using that theory and to propose modifications in order to provide a basis of Design Analysis the nearest possible to the reality of the designers.