Conceptual Principles as Intermediary Object: Case of an Industrial Unit

Abstract

In the participatory design, an intermediary object is a hybrid object, as well as a modeling of our future desire and an instrument to mediate the design process among all the work teams. This article discusses and takes the design process as the object of analysis, and the use of conceptual principles as an intermediary object, based on the authors’ participation in the development of a new Sulphur Recovery Unit. One important point to be considered as a determining factor of functional mismatches in large industrial projects is the growing gap between operational and project teams, even when there is an expressed willingness to promote the participation of operators in the projects. The consequences of this are predominantly organizational, creating obstacles that must be overcome to make the operators’ integration into the project process more effective. Beginning from the conceptual project, the ergonomic design appears early, identifying the need to promote a social intervention together with the technical specifications, using one or more intermediary objects to organize and mediate the interactions between actors of the design process. This conceptual guidance creates a place where the solution to each design conflict should be discussed and resolved.