Working definition
Gaver et al. 2003: a powerful design tool for raising topics or asking questions, while renouncing the possibility of dictating answers. By virtue of this balance, ambiguity both offers an inspiring resource to designers and shows a deep respect for users.
What I don’t mean
- it is clearly separated from fuzziness and inconsistency (the same way friction isn’t dysfunction)
Tensions and open questions
- ambiguity can provoke interpretation in a staged encounter, but it’s not clear whether it holds up over repeated, daily use (my guess? no)