Notes on design and science in the HCI community

Abstract

The article discusses conflicts that exist between the science and design disciplines that comprise the human-computer interaction community. It explains that scientists have a tendency to value the scientific method over other creative processes. It attempts to identify values common to the scientific and design disciplines. It concludes that design uses the concept of universality in a way similar to the scientific use of the concept of generalizability, but that design focuses more on solutions to specific problems than on universal solutions and works on a social rather than intellectual level. It states that until the two communities agree on a common definition of quality, they will continue to tolerate each other but not help each other to succeed.