ABSTRACT
This chapter presents interpretation design as an emerging field of design as communication designers work on complex, large-scale interpretation projects that present information about natural and cultural heritage sites and objects. Ideas and information about natural and cultural heritage are communicated through the designed interface of heritage ‘interpretation’, which in museum and heritage settings refers to the presentation of a place or an object to an audience. The chapter examines the practice of interpretation design as an example, and discusses suitability of a pattern language approach as a research tool for contemporary designers. The contemporary practice of interpretation has evolved to include a range of influences and strategies from many professional fields. The transformations that have been broadly observed in design practice have been amplified through interpretation design projects. A ‘pattern language’ approach was chosen for its capacity as a conceptual tool to draw on a wider base of knowledge beyond design and for its potential to enhance team-based collaborations.
