Here is a first rough attempt at a list of affordances. These don’t always get to the afforded activity – needs fleshing out and re-working. This is kind of brain-dump and so the list is not consistent in tone or approach.

Location/scale

• handheld and can be easily moved
  • portability
  • think with hands/ utilize various gestural behaviors. eg)post-notes
  • vary location
  • enable social interaction, collaboration
  • enables multiples for crit, comparison, juxtaposition in small field of view
• fixed in space, not easily moved
  • it’s a place to go to – exists in space (and in the head)
  • enables people to come together without planning
  • site specificity – relation to culture, objects, context
  • the place memorizes the trace of working process/ utilize(?) organized mass 
• various scales
  • hand scale, 4″ – intimate, fine use of hands
  • book scale, 8″ – good for writing and reading, narrow field of view enables single focus
  • arm’s length scale, 3′-4′ – enables simultaneity, broad gestures, fills field of view
  • human scale, 5′-8′ – evokes emotion, enables standing, full body sensation
  • car scale, 12′ – requires movement to see entire, 
  • building scale, 20′ – evokes shelter, social, modulates light
• defines and visualize a physical or imaginary location in space – enables spatial mental representation & manipulation
• sit/stand    
  • sit- crafting in detailed, micro-scale tasks / stand- brainstorming, analyzing, overviewing       
• can spread-out work  
  • flexibility in time and location, working at a customized environment

Sketching

• little prep
• rough work easy
• lots of ideas quickly
• low cost materials means little censoring
• tangible output to assist in metaphor, reflection, ??? 
• helps brainstorm, idea generation
• helps envisioning the outcome 
• helps exploring visual aspects of the idea / flexibility to manipulate vague, abstract ideas (carving out or adding on features) 

Refined, precise, detailed

• engages fingers, hands in gestures
• learning curve enables fine, controlled motor skills
• wide range of expression possible
• uniqueness characteristic of the designer 

Broad, large, expressive

• big gestures
• enables use of arms, other parts of body
• wide field of vision

Tools

• evocative, tool has character /  sentimental value 
  • specific, narrow-range, idiosyncratic, rich, evocative
  • general, adjustable, wide-range
• learning curve
  • learning curve minimal, fast to use
  • learning curve maximal, lots of nuance to expression
  • both are possible in some, but not always
• tools for making tools – custom for the designer’s practice, or specific project
• tools for making processes - custom for the designer’s practice, or specific project

Reflection

• juxtaposition – see ideas in comparison to each other
• isolation – of person, or of content
  • focus, eliminates context, losing yourself in it, flow
• viewable outside the mind – tangible, in the world, sensible
• evokes ideas in the mind
• editable

Collaboration

• social interaction
  • group can see the same thing, shared experience
  • each can communicate with others
  • each can manipulate thing
  • “eye-contact”
• pin-up
• synchronous and asynchronous discussion
• divide into parts for individual work
• scale of collaboration requires some different approaches
• helps focusing on your expertise 
• helps experiencing wide range of genre of work. 
  

Idea generation

• visualization of ideas
• externalize & organize
• think by writing
• think by sketching
• think by making
• serendipity
• inspiration
• define principles/constraints
• enables complete absorption/flow
• disrupt flow/absorption

Learning/design process

• test ideas
• experiment with multiple approaches
• learn medium in context of project
• learn materials in context of project
• organize
• make a mess  (trial and error)
• reorganize/refactor
• sequence
• breakdown into tasks

Manipulating Psychological State

• ability to change modes through the day
• concentration
• distraction
• entry into “flow”/absorption/focus
• contemplation
• daydreaming
• discharge nervous energy
• create nervous energy
• enable thinking/analysis by moving around (physically/mentally)