Artefact+Model



toc =Artefact model=

“Artefacts are things people use or create in their work.” (Benyon, Turner, 2005) Artefacts are from the Activity Theory. Artefacts are used to examine and identify whether a conclusion can be drawn upon from it. Artefacts range from actually objects such as a specific room to objects such as memos. The artefact model works in design by taking the organization’s structure and analyzing the “artefacts” or setting of it such as work space and analyzing it to determine how it could be improved. Beyer and Holtzblatt point out seven components in the artefact model: information content, structure, informal annotation, presentation of artefact, changes, when artefact was created, and breakdowns.

//Information content// is what we are looking at, the specific artefact.

The //structure of the object// is the way the artefacts are designed. It should be clear and precise who the intended person, it is designed for. For instance, on government forms, there’s part for individuals to fill out and a part that they indicate for office use only. (Benyon, Turner, 2005)

//Informal Annotations// are basically notes. Referring back to the government form, there could be a post-it note posted on it or actually written note on the form. (Benyon, Turner, 2005)

//Presentation// is what the artefact looks like. This takes into account style, colour, image, that gives out clues about what the organization is about. (Benyon, Turner, 2005)

The artefact model also considers changes over time. (Benyon, Turner, 2005) In addition to changes, it looks at when the artefact was developed, what it is used for, and by whom. (Benyon, Turner, 2005) Lastly, the artefact model too looks at breakdowns.

Example of Artefact Model




Benyon, David, Phil Turner, and Susan Turner. //Designing Interactive Systems//. London: Addison-Wesley, 2005.

Beyer, H. and Holtzblatt, K, (1998) //Contextual Design//. Morgan Kaufmann, San Francisco.