Practicing Collaboration in Design

Abstract

Occurring more frequently and with greater diversity among participants, collaboration is an activity without substantial theory or process development in design; it happens in an ad hoc manner. Collaboration may involve inter-disciplinary, multi-disciplinary, inter-institutional or inter-national participation, each of which adds complexity to the process. This essay, based on conversations with designers engaged in collaborative activity, complemented by reflective writings, briefly examines collaborative history in design, explores definitions of the term, reflects on theoretical limitations to mapping collaboration, reveals qualities of collaborative individuals, describes problems in process and explores an inter-disciplinary discourse. The essay concludes with identification of variables that characterize collaborative projects.