The design list didn't recognise the external e-mail
address that's generated (which includes the server name)
via our web-mail service. For the sake of clarity I thought
I'd better re-post my e-mail to Rosan to the list. I'll
probably take a 'deep breath' and disappear 'under the
surface' once again as the Easter conference season
approaches.
Hi Rosan,
Sorry for the delay in replying, our network was down today because a
mechanical digger severed the line into our campus. As a
result this message is being sent from home.
> Are you genuinely interested in exploring issues between research and
practice with an open mind
The whole point of my last mail was to point out that we need to approach
research with an open mind! The irony is that you appear to be
unnecessarily backing design research into a corner by asserting notions
concerning the 'uniqueness' (purity?) of design' How can you
be open minded by effectively saying that you wish to build
walls around design?
> or are you just letting out some frustration
No
> wherever you get on me because I am an easy target
No, although I obviously thought that some of the things
that you said were worth addressing succinctly, I've not
got the time to write lengthy replies but equally I see no
point in writing something that doesn't attempt to
communicate something. I'm sorry if this upset you but I
hope that it's useful.
> who
> has happened to be at the wrong place and at the wrong
time?
There's a logic here that's worth thinking about (and after
all the PhD is about how we think about things). Bearing in
mind that this is a list looking at issues to with PhD's in
design you could only be in 'the wrong place and at the
wrong time' if you're not 'genuinely interested in
exploring issues between research and practice with an open
mind'. I therefore take it on trust that you weren't in the
place....
> I would appreciate it if you could
> clarify that before I respond to your statement that I
> find rather
> interesting and that points to
> the uniqueness of designing. (I am ready to drop the term
> unique if it
> continues to irritate you)
There are various things that certain disciplines do that
others don't. This does not make the discipline in itself
unique (and which seems fundamental to the arguement you
were constructing). If we go back to the
example of DNA almost everybody is unique (other than
identical twins). This doesn't mean that I can't share my
DNA, and I wouldn't have two lovely and unique (!)
children without being able to this.
all the best,
Mark
----------------------------------------
Dr Mark Palmer
Watershed Senior Research Fellow
Email: [log in to unmask]
Tel: 0117 3444714
"University of the West of England"
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