Bthere or be Square: A Method for Extreme Contextualization of Design

Paper i proceeding, 2006

In this paper we describe the Bthere method aiming to increase the context awareness among designers. The method and a workshop scenario will be presented, as well as the results and evaluation from that. Based on the methodology from contextual and participatory design, the paper describes a method for dividing the context in different layers, observed from different perspectives. This reveals hidden structures in the inhabitant’s everyday life and the environment among them, using a full scale context and user study as background material for brainstorming and design choices. The aim of the workshop was to accomplish an expanded notion and awareness of some of the aspects of the city environment that are invisible or unnoticeable. We claim that the Bthere method increases awareness of a richer full scale context, and points to an alternative approach to user involvement in the design process.