Cooperative Prototyping - Users and designers in mutual activity

This paper will present a detailed analysis of an example of application of the approach - design of computer support for casework in a technical department of a local government, where urban planning and environmental control of companies are central work tasks. The analysis starts out from the mutual object of design: the work processes of the prospective users. We look at design as a learning process and analyze various situations where openings for learning occur in the prototyping activity. These situations seem to fall into three categories: the first is situations where the future work situation is simulated and the conditions of the future work activity investigated, in particular the role of the computer application. The second is where the prototype is used as a basis for discussion and articulation of problems with the current work practice, and goals of the future one. The third kind of situations are situations where the design situation as such becomes the focus. Based on