Analysis of graphic representations of activity theory in international journals

Abstract

Activity theory is a relevant framework for the Design field, and their graphic representations are cognitive artifacts that aid the understanding, use and communication of this theory. However, there is a lack of consistency around the graphics and labels used in these representations. Based on this, the aim of this study was to identify, analyze and evaluate these differences and propose a representation that aims to be more suitable for the theory. For this, uses as method a literature review based on Engeström (2001) and its three generations of visual models, combined with graphical analysis of representations collected in a hundred papers from international journals.

Keywords

• activity theory
• graphic representations
• graphical analysis