In this paper, a model of designer-user interaction as a socio-cultural phenomenon is
proposed with the following question: how do the changes in the designer's perspective on
the user's physical and social experiences lead to design refinement or design innovation
sequences? Adopting Bourdieu’s theory of practice as a macro view, we interpret field as
rules of action, habitus as modes of action, and practice as situated actions as they exist in
the design process. Particularly, this research argues that the changes in the designer’s
habitus, as a result of newly acquired knowledge from user research, entail innovation of
practice and expansion of field. In addition, the concept of boundary object is considered
as a micro view to discover how the designer’s research activities assist them in acquiring
knowledge from various sources, and to translate / transform it across domain boundaries
during the process. Two stories of user research projects on retail shopping experience
design are presented as empirical evidence.
DRS 2012 Bangkok
