Collaborative Theorizing with Energy Data

This study explores the intersection of theory, participatory design, experimental research-through-design, and data physicalization to uncover the relationships between young people, their daily objects, and energy data. We introduce ‘Theory Instruments’ to teenagers, graduate students, and young professionals to encourage them to think about their own energy use along with anthropological, physiological, and visual perception theories and phenomenological concepts. These instruments heighten awareness of otherwise invisible energy consumption practices through visual and tangible data representations. Through projects addressing electricity, water usage, and recycling, participants co-created knowledge by developing actionable insights into their habits. We propose the concept of ‘Collaborative Theorizing’ as a way of describing how participants engage in making sense of their quantitative data. The research reveals how theory can serve as a tool for designers and collaborators to enhance reflection, encourage sustainable practices, and expand the scope of participatory design within socio-political and material contexts. By dissolving the traditional boundaries between participants, designers, and researchers, the study presents collaborative theorizing as a framework for co-producing knowledge and fostering behavioral change.