Multi-lifespan Envisioning Cards:
Daisy Yoo, Nick Logler, Stephanie A. Ballard, Batya Friedman · Designing Interactive Systems Conference · 2022
Design theory often stands apart from design practice. Tools offer one means to bridge this divide. Yet how to move from abstract concepts of design theory and principles to specific toolkits that can structure and enable action remains elusive. This pictorial presents a way forward, illustrating the movement from theory to toolkit and concrete action for multi-lifespan design. Our key contributions are three-fold: First, we offer an expansion to an existing design toolkit, the Multi-lifespan Envisioning Cards. We demonstrate the toolkit's use through case studies. Second, we provide insights on the process of constructing a theoretically-informed design toolkit. We pay special attention to the interplay between text, visuals, and embodied actions. Third, we provide a proof-of-concept for how to extend an existing toolkit to account for new theories and perspectives. We reflect on the timeless qualities of the Envisioning Cards and discuss heuristics for designing a robust yet flexible toolkit.