Briefing e contrabriefing: construção, representação e reflexão do problema de design

Abstract

We can characterize design as an activity that works with processes aimed at constructing projects. Over time, designers have used tools that help them accomplish such projects, while providing answers to design problems. From a strategic outlook, such processes are oftentimes represented in a stage called Metaproject, meant to ponder about the given design problem. In this context, this paper presents the investigation carried out with respect to two points during the metaproject stage in a design Workshop: the briefing and the counter-briefing. This paper started from the following questions: how is the briefing constructed in a design project process? How does that process take place, and who are its players? How do we represent a briefing? Hence, the purpose of this study is to understand the process of putting together and presenting the briefing and the counter-briefing as the space where the problem may be occasionally repositioned in the design Workshop. To meet our goal, case studies were adopted as research method. The study makes use of both the theoretical reference and field work. The items addressed by the theoretical reference are: A new outlook on design (Strategic Design); Design problem; Information; Briefing. Case studies were put together by means of attending four Workshops held at the Unisinos Design School and going over their papers, in addition to interviews with the Workshop coordinators. The results obtained allow us to assess how important putting together the briefing and presenting it are for the project process and, particularly, for the project results. Likewise, we are able to understand when and how the counter-briefing can be presented as a way to reposition the design problem. Furthermore, we show the interrelation between communication theories and Strategic Design so that we can make room for discussing the design problem. The importance of the Meta-project is thus established as a constructive, pondering stage in the design project process.