Designing for and with a Community of Designers: Minority Disciplines and Communities of Practice

Abstract

This "work in progress" describes our research into the diversity of working relations and identities of designers at Lotus Development Corporation. Designers are an example of a minority discipline - that is, a discipline whose members are often isolated in their work teams among coworkers with different training, backgrounds, and career paths. The research will be used to develop social and technological bases for a community of practice through which designers can support one another and their work.