Designing Intent:

Can we design intent and meaning into objects? Can these products determine a user’s behavior? Can they go as far as dictating/controlling a user’s actions? Does understanding the user give us an advantage in any of the above categories? Answering these questions is an inherent part of the design process, either consciously, unconsciously or a combination of the two we attempt to resolve some or all of these questions in the conception through the resolution of a product. All products are designed with some degree of intent and/or meaning in them. The degree varies from the broad spectrum (e.g. swiss army knife, see below) to the tight focus (e.g. “the Rabbit”, see right) and from product to product. Is it even possible to “design” a product with no intent or meaning? On a philosophical level if one were to design a product without intent or meaning it would have to be intentionally designed devoid of intent or meaning which in its self gives it intent and meaning. The act of designing is in fact the art of imparting intent and meaning into a thing. Though the intent is not, the meaning is subjective and remains fluid. Vibrators once had a very different meaning but basically the same intent. The designer imparts his or her meaning but the user(s) define(s) it, and it is subject to change at the users whim.
"The Rabbit" (above)is an example of a tight focus product. Its intent fairly straight forward and specific (satisfying a physical and possibly emotional need), its meaning , though subjective i suppose, dictates how the user interacts with it and arguably on some level can effect the users behavior before, during or after their interaction with it. Based on market success and the analysis of intent, meaning and use a very successful design. The Swiss Army Knife (left) is a product that has a intent (to be a multipurpose tool) yet at the same time has a multitude of intents (to be a tool that will serve in a multitude of situations) putting it into the broad spectrum of intent category while its meaning remains subjective. Its form, meaning and intent also dictates how the user should interact with it and using the same reasoning as the previous product it too is successful. Both distinctly different products with different meanings and intents but both judged with the same criteria.

The problem we, the designers, face is that the interpretation of the intent and/or the meaning we have imbued or product with is subjective. So challenge that we have to confront in designing a product is to develop an empathic relationship with/understanding of our target user(s). Gaining a deeper understanding of our user group(s) allows the designer to tailor the intent/meaning of a product to said group so as to minimize the possible “lost in translation” effect. The other dilemma is that once the product is a reality we cannot control the potential misuse/abuse of said product, or can we? The better we understand the audience the more we can craft an explicit use into the product. Though this can never completely prevent the bastardization of a product or concept it can steer the user towards its intended function/meaning and away from its misuse. The Taser Shockwave (see right) “is the first generation of new TASER Remote Area Denial (TRAD) technology. Shockwave devices integrate TASER’s field-proven Neuro Muscular Incapacitation (NMI) technology into the first anti-personnel area-target system capable of not only denying personnel, but also incapacitating personnel with reversible effects.” Essentially it is designed/intended to be non-lethal but could possibly be used to lethal effect by someone. This is an extreme example of an abuse of intent but indicative of the dangers we strive against, hopefully. On the other hand sometimes the “law of unintended consequences” can have positive results. Take the Microplane products (see left)for example, designed as wood shaping tools and converted into one of the most recognized citrus zesters and cheese graters.

So what are we, the designers of the future, to do? We design our products by imbuing them with honest intent and meaning. We craft them, through form, style and function, so as to clearly infer the intent and meaning to our users without sacrificing the integrity thereof. We design to fulfill the needs while detering those of malicious intent from doing so. If they are determined they will, but as long as we are determined they may not, so be determined.
Good Luck!