[IxDA Discuss] Interaction Designer: A Critical Analysis (grad school project)

[Robert Fraher]

My name is Robert Fraher. I am a graduate student at the University  
of Minnesota pursuing a Masters of Fine Art degree in Interactive  
Design.

I am currently finishing a research paper in which I have applied  
Murray and Ozanne’s (1991) Critical Theory method to two questions:  
1) Why is the professional title of interaction designer not broadly  
understood throughout the business environment? 2) How can  
understanding of this term, and the competencies of its practitioners  
be increased within this environment?

The sixth step in this seven-step model involves sharing the findings  
of steps one through five with the affected groups. Therefore, I have  
created the post that you are reading now.

I would very much welcome comments from the IxDA community on the  
findings contained in the paper thus far. (A link to the PDF can be  
found below.) While there is undoubtedly much room for improvement in  
the paper, I ask that the discussion focuses on the findings.  
Unfortunately, there are time-constraints on the project that have  
affected both my methods and the paper’s outcome; I present the paper  
on December 12th.

If possible, I intend to use the observations and ideas generated  
from this discussion in constructing the seventh step of the method.  
This step involves “development of a plan of action” (Murray and  
Ozanne, 2006, p.51).

Thank you all for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

LINK:
https://netfiles.umn.edu/users/frah0005/www/InteractionDesigner_1-5.pdf

REFERENCES:

Murray, Jeff B., Ozanne, Julie L. (1991). The Critical Imagination:  
Emancipatory Interests in Consumer Research. The Journal of Consumer  
Research, 18, 2,  pp. 129-144.

Murray, Jeff B., Ozanne, Julie L. (2006). Rethinking the critical  
imagination. Handbook of qualitative research methods in marketing.  
Northampton: Edward Elgar.