Investigation of the relationship between everyday life theories and design: A theoretical systematic approach

Everyday life is a field in which individuals are present at all times, producing, consuming, and sometimes even doing nothing, becoming a part of it and therefore this field is often overlooked. As everyday life incorporates the forms of relationships related to the subject and the object, and the daily actions within this direction; it also forms the basis for design. The design practice, which is involved in this field through the relationships established with objects, the meanings embedded on objects and the way they are used, is constantly in interaction with everyday life. In this study, some approaches and perspectives on the concept and sociology of everyday life have been examined systematically, and within this framework this clear/ambiguous subject has been associated with the practice of design in the context of the daily objects. The aim is to analyze the relationship between theories of everyday life and design and to explore the existing patterns. Potentialities of the relation between everyday life and design are examined in the light of concepts including power relations, consumption and reproduction –encountered at the intersection of design and everyday life theories. The everyday life approaches were examined and schematized by means of an extensive literature review, and via acquired knowledge, their relation to design was questioned in various contexts. The aim of this study is to encourage interdisciplinary thinking, to draw attention to the importance of everyday life for the design field, and to provide the basis for future studies on design in the context of the relations analyzed here. Finally, obtained results are evaluated and discussed with a current and future oriented perspective.