A Curated Chronology: Traits of Electro-Energy from Research-through-Design Practices

Abstract

Over the past two decades a number of design-led projects undertaken on the topic of energy research have contributed to the research-through-design domain. We present selected studies from design and HCI undertaken as research-throughdesign on the topic of energy as a curated chronology. Four design practice-based research groups from different global regions engaging with energy related issues are discussed in a chronological presentation. Using descriptive analysis of these projects we interpret four specific traits of design for approaching energy as a design subject. The interpretation is presented through tracings of traits and are analysed in a sequence. Building such a curated chronology of prior projects we generate an approach for designing a relation building consumer reward system for a project on wind-based electricity production. With this we show that such a curated chronological approach can be interpretive and generative, complimenting and strengthening conventional literature reviews when undertaking research-through-design projects.