Contextualizing perception in design

Studies in material culture specialize in exploring the designed object and the meanings we attribute to it (Pearce, 1994). These studies are conducted principally as a means of reaching conclusions about us, i.e. the society. Society, in material culture explorations can take various forms – it can be understood as a whole community or can be segmented into market niches for example. The aim of studying our material culture is to understand the beliefs and value systems of various societies, in various historical moments and for various purposes. In order to understand our beliefs and value systems, material culture studies consider how we interpret what we see. [opening paragraph]