Design for meaning: a review of progress

The increased material wealth of industrialised societies has in recent years lead to debate about the meaning of designed artefacts, and about the role of meaning in the innovation processes of businesses, governments and non-governmental organisations. Characteristics which are lower in the “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs” such as safety, comfort and interactivity are increasingly seen as “minimum requirements” rather than areas which provide competitive advantage. Internationally there is a growing awareness that design can no longer concentrate on functionality or even interaction but must focus instead strongly on matters of experience and meaning. The aim of this chapter is to present a review of the need for design for meaning and of developments in the field.