Blog

by Jascha Rohr & Sonja Hörster

Abstract

The field-process-model is a theoretical framework the Institute for Participatory Design developed to understand generative design processes as dynamic interactions of forces in a field. The development of this model became necessary after we encountered numerous theoretical and practical problems with the application of our former, more systemic oriented, understanding of pattern languages and design processes. The field-process-model explores the idea that a field with its forces (as used in numerous pattern languages) is the spatial description of a process, which in turn is the temporal description of a dynamic field. The model gives us a good understanding of how generativity and emergence unfold and how we as designers can foster these qualities in our design processes. Beneath the question of the emergence of new (design) ideas, the model also helps to investigate qualities such as immergence, crisis or bifurcation and of cultivation for generative processes. With the framework the field-process-model describes, we can develop applicable tools and strategies for actual design. The goal is to design in open and flexible processes that are alive and create results that are alive. (weiterlesen …)

We will present the IPGs Field-Process-Modell at the second PUARL International Symposium 2011 in Portland, Oregon

The Field-Process-Model

The field-process-model is a theoretical framework the Institute for Participatory Design developed to understand generative design processes as dynamic interactions of forces in a field. The development of this model became necessary after we encountered numerous theoretical problems with the application of our formerly, more systemic oriented understanding of pattern languages and design processes.

The field-process-model explores the idea that a field with its forces (as used in numerous pattern languages) is the spacial description of a process – which vice versa is the chronological description of a dynamic field. The model gives us a good understanding of how generativity and emergence unfolds and how we as designers can foster these qualities in our design processes. Beneath the question of the emergence of new (design) ideas and innovation, the model also helps to investigate into qualities as immergence, crisis and cultivation for generative processes.

With the field-process-model, we hope to show that pattern languages can become more then good practice descriptions as we often see it, but rather applicable tools and strategies for actual design. The goal is to design in open and flexible processes which are alive and create results which are alive. The theoretical insights will be explained through practical examples from our work with landscape architecture, community organizing and participatory design processes in various projects.

More about the PUARL Symposium

Benjamin Aaron Degenhart, member of our team, shares his cognitive fieldmap of collective intelligence, social interaction tools, process pattern sequences, field sensing and much more: wow!

Find out more on his blogpost.

Wie wir als Resonierende, Transformierende, Kokreierende und Kultivierende wirken

Menschen wirken als Prozessoren im Feld. Wenn wir die Wirkungsweisen von Menschen genauer beschreiben wollen, die sich im Verlauf von Transformations- und Innovationsprozessen einstellen, dann lassen sich vier unterschiedliche Rollenzustände erkennen, die meist in der hier beschriebenen Reihenfolge, aber auch synchron verschränkt zueinander auftreten können.

(weiterlesen …)

Douglas Adams war ein Visionär. Er wusste, dass die Erde ein gewaltiger Computer ist, der geschaffen wurde, um die Frage auf die Antwort auf die Frage nach dem Leben, dem Universum und dem ganzen Rest zu finden. Als Erinnerung: die Antwort auf die Frage aller Fragen hatte der Supercomputer Deep Thought herausgefunden. Die Antwort lautete: 42. Das Problem war jedoch, dass die Frage selbst nie wirklich formuliert worden war und somit niemand mit dem Ergebnis 42 viel anfangen konnte. Also wurde die Erde gebaut, um die Frage zu der Antwort auf die Frage aller Fragen herauszufinden. (weiterlesen …)