Shopping for sharpies in Seattle: mundane infrastructures of transnational design

Authors:
Lilly Irani;Paul Dourish;Melissa Mazmanian
Affiliations:
University of California, Irvine, CA, USA;University of California, Irvine, CA, USA;University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
Venue:
Proceedings of the 3rd international conference on Intercultural collaboration
Year:
2010

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Abstract

In this paper, we describe the importance of mundane tools for design practitioners in India working with Euro-American clients. Our findings are based on a 7-week ethnographic study of a design firm based in Delhi, India. We analyze some highly-valued tools and software, such as post-its, as infrastructures with both practical and symbolic functions. These infrastructures are made meaningful in the shared practices of a transnational but primarily Euro-American design community. Designers in India employ a number of strategies we call "infrastructure work" to be able to participate as designers in this mold.