Cultural-historical activity theory and informal learning as a key component of co-design practice in a community initiative

Calvo, Mirian; Sclater, Madeleine; Smith, Paul

Abstract

This paper outlines PhD research associated with Leapfrog, a three-year-funded AHRC project, which aims to analyse the impact of co-design practices in developing ‘engagement tools’ within community development. One challenge in co-design is identifying ways to understand holistically the context. Understanding individual and collective contextual factors simultaneously requires bridging the gap between theory and practice. Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) interconnects all the components simultaneously illuminating a holistic approach for understanding such context. The paper focuses on the distribution of power in co-design aiming to illustrate how designers balance power and reflects on the experience of applying CHAT into practice, identifying informal learning as a key component. It elucidates how ethnographic methods can provide a deeper understanding about the context. About this, it can be concluded that a greater awareness of context, understood through the lenses of CHAT, helps designers to reveal the interconnection between individual and collective factors.

Citation

Calvo, M., Sclater, M., & Smith, P. (2016, September). Cultural-historical activity theory and informal learning as a key component of co-design practice in a community initiative. Paper presented at ESREA: 8th Triennial European Research Conference. Imagining diverse futures for adult education: questions of power and resources of creativity, Maynooth University, Ireland

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: ESREA: 8th Triennial European Research Conference. Imagining diverse futures for adult education: questions of power and resources of creativity
• Conference Location: Maynooth University, Ireland
• Start Date: Sep 8, 2016
• End Date: Sep 11, 2016
• Acceptance Date: Jul 15, 2016
• Publication Date: Sep 11, 2016
• Deposit Date: Sep 17, 2018
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: design for social innovation, co-design, design ethnography, Leapfrog tools, cultural-historical activity theory, informal learning
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/908064
• Publisher URL: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/esrea
• Related Public URLs: http://radar.gsa.ac.uk/5295/
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : ESREA: 8th Triennial European Research Conference