Creating alternative frames for a retail security problem: An application of Dorst's Frame Creation model

This paper describes and reflects on the application of Dorst’s Frame Creation model [1] to the problem of retail theft from fitting rooms in a project with a large department store retailer. The project was the core design task for three students in a 13 week elective offered in the Master of Design course at the University of Technology Sydney. Through applying the frame creation model in this project what initially presented as a shallow, simple problem emerged as being linked to broader themes in the business. In this broader context the design team was able to identify themes and create a frame which opened up opportunities for resolving the problem. This project highlighted the potential value of looking beyond the normal frames of security practice to explore the opportunities for loss prevention in the broader themes and drivers in the organizational and business context.