@inproceedings{e582978719034e64baa0fd44bc9c91fc,
title = "Ambiguity and Open-Endedness in Behavioural Design",
abstract = "Design is increasingly concerned with changing people{\textquoteright}s behaviours. A common characteristic to behavioural design approaches is their directionality: productsprovide clarity about or guidance towards the designer{\textquoteright}s intended behavioural outcome. In this paper we propose an alternative perspective that emphasizesambiguity (i.e. affording multiple interpretations) and open-endedness (i.e. affording multiple courses of action). We build on two design cases in pediatric healthcare inwhich the aim was to stimulate young children{\textquoteright}s physical activity during hospitalization. Instead of commonly used exercise-based approaches, our focus wason physical activity in the form of spontaneous and unstructured play. We describe how interactions with ambiguous and open-ended playthings gave rise to intendedbehavioural outcomes. The findings are explained by drawing on Activity Theory, suggesting products can direct and leave things open on different levels of interaction.With our contribution we open up a new design space for behavioural design that reconciles designer{\textquoteright}s intentions with end user{\textquoteright}s appropriation.",
keywords = "appropriation, design for behaviour change, openness, research through design",
author = "Boudewijn Boon and Marco Rozendaal and Stappers, {Pieter Jan}",
year = "2018",
doi = "10.21606/drs.2018.452",
language = "English",
isbn = "978-1-912294-19-0",
series = "Proceedings of DRS",
publisher = "Design Research Society",
pages = "2075--2085",
editor = "C. Storni and K. Leahy and M. McMahon and P. Lloyd and E. Bohemia",
booktitle = "Proceedings of DRS 2018",
note = "DRS 2018 : Design as a catalyst for change ; Conference date: 25-06-2018 Through 28-06-2018",
}