Why Design: Its Challenges

What is design? Designing : An activity

which consists of thinking before acting.

Design takes place in a world of interpretation.

Design is anticipation. Design is seeking

alternatives. Design is anticipating

consequences.

Self Images of Designers

1. Designer as Artist

a. Is the producer of fine art.b. “Space” is the medium of expressionc. Values are based on self expression.

Designer as Builder

a. Knows how to deal with everyday problemscodes, budgets, schedules, materials

b. Strong practical and technical interests.c. Are the designers who get things made/built.

Designer as Coordinator

a. Manages a group of specialist.b. Complex is the favorite word.c. Know a little about a lot.d. Choreographs the high powered, narrow view of specialist.

Designer as Entrepreneur

a. Design as commodity.b. Quality based on market.c. Speculative action

Designer as Healer

a. Good environments make healthy people.b. See the environment as a social illness.c. Social problems solved by better buildings/places.

Designer as Planner

a. Design buildings like one would design an airplane.b. FFF-Form follows function.c. Making is a technical problem solving activity.d. Buildings should be programmed by their function.

A Definition of Design

Designing is an activity, aiming at the production of plans, which if executed are expected to lead to a situation with desired properties, and without undesired, unforeseen side or after effects.

Design as activity, not a product.Aims at something– is purposeful.Plan as a set of instruction.

Styles of Design

Style 1: Routine Behavior

Challenge Resolution

Style 2: Trial and Error

Challenge Partial Resolution

Test Feedback

YesNo

Resolution

Style 3: Criteria for Judgment

Challenge

Alternatives

New challenge Resolution

Feedback

The Knowledge of the Designer

Factual Knowledge – knowledge of how the world is.

Deontic Knowledge – knowledge of what ought to be.

Explanatory Knowledge – knowledge of why something is.

Instrumental Knowledge – how to knowledge.

Conceptural Knowledge – symbols and conventions.

Nature of Design Problems

Two Types of Problems/Challengesa. Tame Challenges1. Have an exhaustive definition2. Ends and Goals well defined3. Examples: puzzles, math equations, models

b. Wicked Challenges1. No exhauxtive definition2. Formulation same as resolution3. Examples: social, political, design, and planning

Design Challenge Characteristics

Wicked challenges have no exhaustive formulation.

The formulation is identical to the resolution.

Every wicked challenges can be considered a symptom of another wicked challenge.

Wicked challenges have no stopping rules.

Wicked challenges have many explanations for discrepancies.

Wicked challenges have no test of correctness.

Wicked challenges are one-shot observations.

Wicked challenges have no list of permissible procedures, rules, operations, etc.

Wicked challenge resolvers have not right to make an error.

Characteristics continued

The Beginnings of the Studio

Appearance in Egypt and Greece Master crafts people

The studio/workshop Romans elevate architecture

New theoretical underpinnings (Vitruvius) Hydraulics and other forms of engineering

The Renaissance

Formal academic instruction Kinship of design and liberal arts

Drawing Geometry Perspective Classic Orders Master Apprentice model Separation of studio and lectures/seminars

Royal Academy of Architecture,France 1670 French Royal Academy in Rome 1700 Ecole des Beaux Arts 1797 Bauakademie Berlin 1799

Ecole Teaching Method

Exercises-analogies to complex buildings The Esquisse The Charette The Parti The Mosacis and Entourage The Jury

Second Class and First Class

Architecture England/USA

Architectural Association (The AA) 1810 First Private School Established licensure RIBA-Professional Membership

USA Courses at Rensselaer & West Point 1820

Univ. of Illinois 1873--MIT 1868 Columbia 1881--Harvard 1895 Today 114 schools—50,000 students

The Bauhaus Walter Gropius 1940

Integration of utility and structure The Modern Movement Objective findings Unification of diverse skills Collaboration of muliple disciplines Reunite the creative arts and crafts

Direct shop or field experience Materials and industrial techniques

Environmental Design 1960

Decision Science Concepts, methods, and values Complex Problems

People and the Environment Normalized Direct Participation

Ecosystems Design Methods