Narratives have become increasingly prominent in both design and innovation management. As a fundamental aspect of human cognition and a mode of communication, the role of narrative in design and innovation processes has been emphasized. Human beings have been acknowledged as “homo narrans”, who, in and through stories, learn about, make sense of, and act in and on the world. They perceive, think, imagine and make ethical choices through narrative structures. Despite recent studies exploring the roles and characteristics of narratives and storytelling in design and innovation, there remains a gap in understanding how design narratives can influence innovation processes. This doctoral research aims to investigate the fundamental characteristics of design narratives in the design innovation process. By addressing the knowledge gap between design studies and innovation management studies, identified through both academic and practical reviews, this study seeks to establish a theoretical foundation for Design Narratives in innovation. Initially, the study constructs a conceptual framework to address the central issue. Through interdisciplinary conceptualization among design studies, innovation management, and narrative studies, following a contextual review, key premises and assumptions are woven together. Specifically, “Design Narratives as Worldmaking” can facilitate and coordinate the co-evolution of problem and solution spaces in the design innovation process. Subsequently, three dimensions of narratives—typologies, functions, and elements—are constructed to explore different aspects of narrative characteristics, which are fundamental facets argued in narratology. This research employs qualitative and exploratory research methods, grounded in a social constructivist worldview. Methodologically, it adopts a mixed method design, utilizing two qualitative methods: protocol analysis as the core component and a multiple-case study as a supplementary component. Following the initial research phase, which includes a contextual review, a systematic literature review, and expert interviews, the main research activity is defined as a mixed method design of the “QUAL+qual” model. The outcomes of this study have made significant contributions to both academia and practical applications in design community. It has generated valuable academic insights by enhancing our understanding of how design narratives impact the innovation process and by developing a conceptual framework based on existing theoretical and empirical knowledge. Moreover, this research promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and dialogue among various fields, including design studies, innovation management, and narrative studies. In terms of practical implications, this study offers actionable guidance for companies, innovation practitioners, and design professionals aiming to utilize design as a catalyst for innovation. It introduces a fresh perspective on design, framing it as a practice of worldmaking through narrative and discourse. Additionally, the findings shed new light on how design practitioners can effectively serve as agents of narrative worldmaking. Finally, this PhD research holds broader societal implications. Given the multitude of complex challenges facing the world, this study underscores the crucial role of design narratives in harnessing interdisciplinary expertise to address these challenges confidently. Particularly for wicked problems characterized by hyper-complexity and ambiguity, the theoretical framework of “Design Narrative Worldmaking (DNW)” emerges as vital practices for creating and implementing innovative solutions. By illuminating new dimensions of narrative in design, design has the potential to emerge as a central solution to a wide array of increasingly intricate and sophisticated problems.
Il concetto di "narrativa" è diventato sempre più importante sia nel design che nella gestione dell'innovazione. Il ruolo delle narrative nei processi di progettazione e innovazione è stato enfatizzato, in quanto aspetto fondamentale della cognizione umana e modalità di comunicazione.Gli esseri umani sono riconosciuti come "homo narrans", perchè, nelle storie e attraverso di esse, imparano a conoscere, a dare senso e ad agire nel mondo e sul mondo. Percepiscono, pensano, immaginano e fanno scelte etiche attraverso strutture narrative. Nonostante studi recenti esplorino i ruoli e le caratteristiche delle narrative e dello storytelling nel design e nell'innovazione, rimane una lacuna nella comprensione di come le narrative di design possano influenzare i processi di innovazione. Questa ricerca di dottorato si propone di indagare le caratteristiche fondamentali delle narrative di design nel processo di innovazione. Affrontando il divario di conoscenze tra gli studi sul design e quelli sulla gestione dell'innovazione, individuato attraverso revisioni sia accademiche che pratiche, questo studio cerca di stabilire una base teorica per le narrative di design nell'innovazione. Inizialmente, lo studio costruisce un quadro concettuale per affrontare la questione centrale. Attraverso una concettualizzazione interdisciplinare tra studi di design, gestione dell'innovazione e studi narrativi, dopo una revisione contestuale, si intrecciano premesse e assunti chiave. In particolare, le "narrazioni di design come world-making" possono facilitare e coordinare la co-evoluzione degli spazi problematici e risolutivi nel processo di innovazione guidato dal design. Successivamente, sono state costruite tre dimensioni delle narrative - tipologie, funzioni ed elementi - che esplorano diversi aspetti dello storytelling, a partire dai concetti fondamenti della narratologia. Questa ricerca impiega metodi di ricerca qualitativi ed esplorativi, basati su una visione del mondo costruttivista e sociale. Dal punto di vista metodologico, adotta un approccio misto, con due tecniche qualitative: l'analisi protocollare come componente centrale e uno studio di caso multiplo come componente aggiuntiva. Dopo la fase iniziale di ricerca, che comprende una revisione del contesto, una revisione sistematica della letteratura e interviste ad esperti, l'attività di ricerca principale è definita come un disegno di metodo misto del modello "QUAL+qual". I risultati di questo studio hanno apportato contributi significativi sia al mondo accademico che alle applicazioni pratiche nella comunità del design. Ha generato preziose intuizioni accademiche, migliorando la nostra comprensione di come le narrative di design influenzino il processo di innovazione; ha inoltre aiutato a sviluppare un quadro concettuale basato sulle conoscenze teoriche ed empiriche esistenti. Inoltre, questa ricerca promuove la collaborazione interdisciplinare e il dialogo tra vari campi, tra cui teoria del design, gestione dell'innovazione e narratologia. In termini di implicazioni pratiche, questo studio offre una guida praticabile per le aziende, gli operatori dell'innovazione e i professionisti del design che intendono utilizzare il design come catalizzatore dell'innovazione. Introduce una nuova prospettiva sul design, inquadrandolo come una pratica di creazione del mondo attraverso la narrazione e il discorso. Inoltre, i risultati gettano nuova luce su come i professionisti del design possano servire efficacemente come agenti di creazione del mondo narrativo. Infine, questa ricerca di dottorato presenta implicazioni sociali più ampie. Nel contesto delle sfide complesse che il mondo si trova ad affrontare, questo studio sottolinea il ruolo cruciale delle narrative di design nel facilitare approcci interdisciplinari per la risoluzione di problematiche complesse. In particolare, il quadro teorico del "Design Narrative Worldmaking (DNW)" emerge come pratica vitale per creare e implementare soluzioni innovative. Illuminando le nuove dimensioni della narrazione nel design, il design ha il potenziale per emergere come soluzione centrale a una vasta gamma di problemi sempre più intricati e sofisticati.
Design narratives as worldmaking for innovation : the discursive mechanism of interpretation and sensemaking for the coevolution of problem and solution
Hayama, Yasuyuki
2023/2024
Abstract
Narratives have become increasingly prominent in both design and innovation management. As a fundamental aspect of human cognition and a mode of communication, the role of narrative in design and innovation processes has been emphasized. Human beings have been acknowledged as “homo narrans”, who, in and through stories, learn about, make sense of, and act in and on the world. They perceive, think, imagine and make ethical choices through narrative structures. Despite recent studies exploring the roles and characteristics of narratives and storytelling in design and innovation, there remains a gap in understanding how design narratives can influence innovation processes. This doctoral research aims to investigate the fundamental characteristics of design narratives in the design innovation process. By addressing the knowledge gap between design studies and innovation management studies, identified through both academic and practical reviews, this study seeks to establish a theoretical foundation for Design Narratives in innovation. Initially, the study constructs a conceptual framework to address the central issue. Through interdisciplinary conceptualization among design studies, innovation management, and narrative studies, following a contextual review, key premises and assumptions are woven together. Specifically, “Design Narratives as Worldmaking” can facilitate and coordinate the co-evolution of problem and solution spaces in the design innovation process. Subsequently, three dimensions of narratives—typologies, functions, and elements—are constructed to explore different aspects of narrative characteristics, which are fundamental facets argued in narratology. This research employs qualitative and exploratory research methods, grounded in a social constructivist worldview. Methodologically, it adopts a mixed method design, utilizing two qualitative methods: protocol analysis as the core component and a multiple-case study as a supplementary component. Following the initial research phase, which includes a contextual review, a systematic literature review, and expert interviews, the main research activity is defined as a mixed method design of the “QUAL+qual” model. The outcomes of this study have made significant contributions to both academia and practical applications in design community. It has generated valuable academic insights by enhancing our understanding of how design narratives impact the innovation process and by developing a conceptual framework based on existing theoretical and empirical knowledge. Moreover, this research promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and dialogue among various fields, including design studies, innovation management, and narrative studies. In terms of practical implications, this study offers actionable guidance for companies, innovation practitioners, and design professionals aiming to utilize design as a catalyst for innovation. It introduces a fresh perspective on design, framing it as a practice of worldmaking through narrative and discourse. Additionally, the findings shed new light on how design practitioners can effectively serve as agents of narrative worldmaking. Finally, this PhD research holds broader societal implications. Given the multitude of complex challenges facing the world, this study underscores the crucial role of design narratives in harnessing interdisciplinary expertise to address these challenges confidently. Particularly for wicked problems characterized by hyper-complexity and ambiguity, the theoretical framework of “Design Narrative Worldmaking (DNW)” emerges as vital practices for creating and implementing innovative solutions. By illuminating new dimensions of narrative in design, design has the potential to emerge as a central solution to a wide array of increasingly intricate and sophisticated problems.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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PhD THESIS_YASUYUKI HAYAMA_240222_FIN.pdf
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Descrizione: PhD THESIS IN DESIGN 35 CYCLE "DESIGN NARRATIVES AS WORLDMAKING FOR INNOVATION" BY YASUYUKI HAYAMA
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/217120