Meta-Tools for Design: An Experimental Method for Investigating Design Tools

Are design tools really neutral ‒ or do they quietly shape what we create? Bridging design theory and the philosophy of technology, Steffen Mitschelen reveals how tools actively influence creative thinking, design processes, and final outcomes. Moving beyond conventional software-centered perspectives, his study introduces a powerful framework for understanding the hidden agency of creative media. At its core is the innovative »Meta-Tool« method, which uses simple everyday materials to expose the mechanisms through which tools guide design. Based on eight hands-on workshops with design students, the volume uncovers 20 recurring patterns that open new paths for experimentation, reflection, and creative discovery.