This case study explores some of the inevitable conflicts tensions and misinterpretations which may emerge from the exchange of ideas and values on a virtual design project in which language rather than visual process is central to design thinking. Design integrity may be compromised by attempting to conform too rigidly to a client's expectation: equally clients may be dominated by design agendas. Conflict may surface but such creative tensions may be as energising as they are potentially paralysing. Where the intellectual and creative ownership of what is eventually 'designed' rests challenges misconceptions from inexperienced undergraduates that designing is an exclusive rather than inclusive act and raises important questions on the reality of designing within the real world or design school contexts.
