Thirteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices

Abstract

This research addresses the relationships that can be established between design and fiction. They are both creative fields, with more in common than meets the eye. The study is divided in two parts, introduces six encounters, and focuses mainly on audiovisual fiction and product design, although the classification can also be valid with other disciplines of each field. The first part explores how fiction embraces design. Objects have always been present and used in films (design in fiction), even designed specifically for them (design for fiction), but also the design field has been portrayed in several ways (design through fiction). These representations can be used as a vast source for design studies. The second part proves fiction as a key aspect in design practice. Design is a process that aims to create what is yet to exist (design as fiction), and designers use narratives to develop new products (design from fiction), or to present critical or speculative scenarios (design fiction). Taking this approaches into consideration can broaden designers perspective and understanding of design practice. This classification has been drawn up from the analysis of multiple films and design projects, and the resulting framework of relationships can serve to understand fiction as a field of interest for both designers and design researchers.