Value Sensitive Design (VSD) offers a principled framework for embedding human values into technology, yet its practical application remains challenging due to unclear demarcations between its conceptual, empirical, and technical investigation types. This paper addresses the gap between VSD theory and the practices of (design) professionals by proposing a practitioner-oriented conceptualization. Using the Design Science Research (DSR) approach, the study creates a framework that 1) distinguishes investigations by methodological mode and object of investigation, 2) aligns VSD’s investigation types with the problem and solution spaces used by
designers, while 3) accounting for socio-technical complexity. The framework is validated through three real-world cases in public service design, demonstrating its applicability. As the framework is retrospectively validated, future research is required to determine the effectiveness of prescriptive use of the model in practice.
