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studying design problems. Kees Dorst. Kees Dorst. BACKGROUND Industrial Design Engineering Product designer Design Research Manager NOW Senior researcher at TU/e – ID Writer/editor for ITEMS & BNO Vormberichten Design Academy Eindhoven
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studying design problems Kees Dorst
Kees Dorst BACKGROUND Industrial Design Engineering Product designer Design Research Manager NOW Senior researcher at TU/e – ID Writer/editor for ITEMS & BNO Vormberichten Design Academy Eindhoven Consultant for YD+I, Premsela, city of Amsterdam, etc…
Understanding Design150 reflections on design, from150 different standpoints
an anatomy of design research ACTIVITIES observe -> describe –> explain –> prescribe & develop support THE ASPECTS OF A DESIGN SITUATION
studying design problems GOALS OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT: … literature study (in design methdology and philosophy) & empirical research … to develop a taxonomy of design problems STARTING POINT: DESIGN PROBLEMS ARE… - illstructured / wicked - underdetermined - descriptions of design in the two paradigms of design methodology
design problems as ill-structured problems illstructured = not well structured (Simon) 1 - testing on objective criteria 2 - definable problem space 3 - transitions from state to state 4 - representable knowledge 5 - representation of external world 6 - processes are practicable AND: design problems are 'wicked‘ (Rittel & Webber) BUT IN THE END, NEGATIVE DESCRIPTIONS DO NOT HELP
design problems as underdetermined problems LEVELS OF DETERMINATION • design problems are partly determined by needs, requirements and intentions -> analyse • underdetermination: there is need for exploration of possibilities and (re-) interpretation of the problem • undetermined: freedom to create own criteria basic model for design problem solving under conditions of underdetermination: CO- EVOLUTION
CO EVOLUTION THE CO-EVOLUTION MODEL the goal is to arrive at a matching problem-solution pair... so the design problem is not stable and the only relevant problem is the one the designer sees
design problems in the two paradigms of design methodology RATIONAL PROBLEM SOLVING (Simon) - takes general problem solving as a model (well-structured problems…) - exceptions: - immediate problem space - satisficing REFLECTIVE PRACTICE (Schön) - definition of problem by framing - strength of the frame defines the structuredness of the task - normative design domains
the problem of design problems … not much closer to a taxonomy … maybe not aim for an a priori problem structure, but look at what designers do, how they structure their problems …?
through the eyes of the designer SITUATEDNESS - concentrate on the local design problem - ‘dealing with a problematic situation’ - complexity - discovered and made - problem solving activity is largely implicit • only reveals itself at breakdowns (critical situations) … so it is not possible to make a taxonomy?
turning to the designer the way designers tackle their design problems depends very strongly on the problem they see…design is a situated activity, in which the designer is a major determining factor… BUT HOW TO MODEL A DESIGNER? … we could move forward by concentrating on design thinking, & distinguishing kinds of design thinking
levels of design thinking based on Hubert L. Dreyfus Novice : objective features - strict rules to follow - attitude: detached from the problem Advanced beginner: situational aspects are taken into account - maxims are used for guidance - attitude: detached from the problem Competent: choosing plan, goal, perspective - need for reflection - attitude: involved (opportunity, hope, risk, threat, responsibility )
levels of design thinking Proficient: immediately sees issue and appropriate plan & reasons out what to do Expert: responds to specific situation - intuitively performs appropriate action, straightaway - no observable problem solving Master: sees the standard not as natural but as contingent insight: open to subtle cues. deeper involvement, dwelling on success and failures Visionary:pays attention to anomalies and marginal practices - sees new ways things could be - defines the issues
Research programme for studying levels of design expertise/ design thinking 1 - reflective practice & rational problem solving on each level of expertise 2 - transitions from one level to the next 3 - other kinds of learning (design prototypes, declarative knowledge, process knowledge) WHAT COULD THIS BRING US? • build up a much more detailed picture of design by helping to distinguish different kinds of design problem solving and reflection on the respective levels. • links research with education, practice, and tools development • this could help us solve ‘the learning problem’.
the problem of design problems SUMMARY we have moved from a taxonomy of design problems to a description of design situations. To understand what is happening at the breakdowns in these situations, we have turned to a model of design expertise… META METHODOLOGY philosophy can help to reflect upon design methodology, and to work towards and explanatory framework for design