An analysis of face-to-face drawing activity

This paper provides a detailed description of the drawing activities that pairs of product design students working in a "normal" (i.e. face-to face) situation produce. The design students' drawings are analysed with respect to the originator of the drawing, the drawing's content, and whether the drawing was used more than once. The findings suggest that there are certain commonalities in design students' behaviour (i.e. a preference for working on their own drawings) and consistent differences within design pairs (i.e. the design student who produces most combined drawings and one who works on a lower proportion of the partners drawings). An explanation for these differences and commonalities is posited with reference to the notion of "role playing" and its possible educational implications.