Transitioning towards agroecology through digital technology: an empirical study of design activities in an agroliving lab

To support the necessary agroecological transition of the conventional agricultural model, technology is seen as very promising and agroliving labs are supposed to be relevant for developing technologies aimed at supporting this transition. However, very little is known about these living labs, particularly about design processes. This exploratory study contributes to the understanding of these processes based on an analysis of video observation and self-confrontation interview of a design workshop. Results show a misalignment between the expected and the actual course of the workshop, creating a difficult experience for the workshop facilitator. This gap finds its roots in a lack of problem framing. Perspectives are proposed to better understand and support the design activities in the agroliving lab.