Origins of design choices: retrospective analysis of the resulting prototype of a Research through Design project

This paper presents the co-design process implemented throughout a project called “My Architect and I” and the prototypes of tools that emerged from it. These prototypes aim to improve the interactional practices between architects and user-clients in the context of private housing projects in Belgium. The purpose of this study is to identify the roots and triggers shaping the artefacts designed throughout the process. This paper focuses on one of the prototypes brought up by the project. This tool was put together in a short amount of time, under the pressure of the codesign workshops schedule. It results in a paper booklet imagined as a form to be filled in by a user-client in order to inform the architect on their desires and needs. As we take a step back and reflect on the overall outputs for this research through design, we break down each aspect of the booklet to identify the origin of the design choices. This may inform broader design criteria to imagine other tools or strategies to facilitate the interactions between an architect and user-client. This method of deconstructing an artefact is an attempt at objectifying the codesign process’ added value. The evolving prototype isn’t considered as an end in itself, but rather as a base to reflect on the needs in terms of facilitation, and as a still evolving template for architect, designers and client-users to build on and take ownership of.