Context has several different aspects to it. Through decontextualization, a product can be made independent of its environment or natural state. Such a product can be (re)contextualized to introduce certain connotations to it.
Context, in consumer culture, is often viewed as being separable from the product itself, to the point at which it becomes merely a matter of packaging. A company will rarely (if ever) advertise that its product is made with, say, child labor from the Philippines. Instead, this context can be replaced with more appealing ones--on the box might be an image of a sports star, or maybe an American flag. Reflective design provides a critical framework for examining these relationships.
In terms of the user experience, reflective design can highlight contexts which are commonly stripped away in the packaging process--for example, it can provide the potential for educating the user about the origin and processing of resources. Also, a product of reflective design might be contextualized in a way that contradicts common ideas about proper context. Imagine a set of kitchen appliances, for example, which work as office tools.
For the designer, the challenge of reflective design is to confront design ideals concerning the proper place of technology. Can artifacts placed in unusual contexts still be usable? Furthermore, what factors might play into the packaging of a product?
Control
Irrationality of Rationality
Kitchen Appliances
Water Jug
