Beyond critical: the importance of introspective conceptual design

Conceptual design is an emerging area of design research and practice which shares much in common with conceptual art. Both are driven by the idea that the concept or question behind the artefacts they produce is often more important than the artefacts themselves. Speculative design is the most prominent form of conceptual work undertaken by designers. This article argues that being speculative, and as such forward looking, it leaves a deficit in our evaluation of current issues in design and their roots. A more immediate and introspective form of conceptual design may allow us to make better decisions by questioning and challenging current design culture and contemporary practice.