ABSTRACT
Narrative environments are envisaged, debated, designed and funded by individuals or communities, companies and governments. The concept of dramatic conflict can be traced back to theories of agon in classical Greece where the word agon meant a purposeful gathering. The design of narrative environments argues that the point is to investigate what gives rise to those problems and opportunities, to look at the underlying tensions or dramatic conflicts. Market-driven problem-solving is the dominant view of design across the creative industries. The issue is that it positions the designer as a technical expert, albeit creative, but does not allow for the designer to express any political, environmental or social position. In order to understand the multiple qualities and meanings of spaces and places, initial research into the dramatic conflicts they embody is essential for the design of narrative environments.
