Designers as fans: Bottom-up online explorations of new technology concepts as a genre of design fan fictions

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v23i12.9298

Keywords:

design fiction, fan fiction, Participatory culture, user-generated content, online communities

Abstract

This paper explores the intersection between the participatory culture mechanism of fan fiction and the emerging trend of user-generated design fiction scenarios, exploring new technological design ideas. We propose this intersection is an under-appreciated form of online participation, exploring the potential of new digital technologies as ‘design fan fictions’. Online users launch small fictional scenarios depicting their personal visions or interpretations of specific genres of technologies. This form of bottom-up exploration can be a valuable resource for design, informed by the most dedicated ‘fans’ within technological discourse.

Author Biographies

Peter Vistisen, Aalborg University

Peter Vistisen is assistant professor at Aalborg University, with a research interest in the intersection between technology and the liberal arts, especially in regard to early explorative mediums to visualise and share design visions. 

Thessa Jensen, Aalborg University

Thessa Jensen is associate professor at Aalborg University, and uses the ethics of K. E. Løgstrup and A. Honneth’s notion of recognition to understand how online social media can be designed to support or constrain participation, co-creation and generation of content.

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Published

2018-12-01

How to Cite

Vistisen, P., & Jensen, T. (2018). Designers as fans: Bottom-up online explorations of new technology concepts as a genre of design fan fictions. First Monday, 23(12). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v23i12.9298