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Affordances and use plans: An analysis of two alternatives to function-based design

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2015

Auke J.K. Pols
Auke J.K. Pols*
Affiliation:
School of Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
*
Reprint requests to: Auke J.K. Pols, School of Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology, IPO 1.09, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands. E-mail: A.J.K.Pols@tue.nl
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Abstract

Function-based design approaches have been criticized for being too narrow to properly guide design. Specifically, they are said to be unable to cope with nonfunctional considerations, such as cost or maintenance issues without invoking other concepts, such as constraints. This paper investigates two alternative conceptualizations of the design process: the practical affordance-based design approach, as elaborated by Maier and Fadel, and the more theoretical use plan approach by Houkes and Vermaas. This paper compares function-, affordance-, and use plan-based design approaches. It highlights strengths and weaknesses of each approach and proposes a definition of the function of an artifact in terms of its affordances.

Keywords

AffordancesFunctionPhilosophy of DesignUse Plans
Type
Special Issue Articles
Information
AI EDAM , Volume 29 , Special Issue 3: Affordances in Design , August 2015 , pp. 239 - 247
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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