The design of information systems: <i>parti</i>, formats and sketching
Authors: Stolterman, Erik
Journal: Information Systems Journal (1999)
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2575.1999.00044.x
<jats:p>In this article it is argued that an information system must be treated as an artefact with a <jats:italic>format</jats:italic>. We need to see information systems design as based on <jats:italic>architectonic</jats:italic> and not <jats:italic>tectonic</jats:italic> thinking. Design based on architectonic thinking emphasizes (1) the task of giving form to a design proposal, and (2) the task of creating an overall structure for the information system. These two activities are closely related because they both deal with the issue of seeing the idea or <jats:italic>whole</jats:italic> of systems, and the problem of <jats:italic>how to give form to that whole</jats:italic>. The paper begins with an exploration of the concept <jats:italic>formative faculties</jats:italic> in relation to ‘given’ and ‘non‐given’ objects. The concepts of <jats:italic>parti</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>format</jats:italic> are then presented as a way to grasp the ‘whole’ of an information system. How formats can be used in information systems design is discussed as well as how this leads to the act of <jats:italic>sketching</jats:italic> as an important but neglected activity in information syst…