On the Emergence of Common Design Metaphors in Collaborative Design

Contents

This paper reports an observation of how designers work together to achieve integrated building design on the basis of individual contributions. A case study shows that the keystone of fruitfid collaboration lies in the projection of common images; and common design metaphors emerging from group interpretation of the common images can function as a communicative device, allowing for participants to collaborate effectively. A set of constraints on collaboration is identified via a situation-theoretical analysis of a scenario of collaborative design. As shown, the constraints derived have some implications for building collaboration-supporting tools.