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DESIGN RESEARCH NEWS Volume 10 Number 10 Oct 2005 ISSN 1473-3862
DRS Digital Newsletter http://www.designresearchsociety.org
________________________________________________________________
Join DRS now via e-payment http://www.designresearchsociety.org
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CONTENTS
o Editorial
o Design Studies contents
o Calls
o Announcements
o Web
o Books
o The Design Research Society: information
o Electronic Services of the DRS
o Contributing to Design Research News
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Editorial
Lisbon conference
Next month's issue of Design Research News will carry the call
for papers for Wonderground -- the 2006 Design Research Society
International Conference in Lisbon, Portugal at IADE Instituto
de Artes Visuais, Design e Marketing. The conference is
co-chaired by Eduardo Corte-Real, Ken Friedman, and Terence Love
with Chris Rust as chair of the research exhibition and Charles
Burnette as chair of the scientific committee.
The 2006 conference will invite 4 kinds of papers -- full papers
at 5,000-6,000 words, working papers at 2,000 words plus
references, and poster presentations, as well as contributions
to the research exhibition. Design Research News will publish
the full call next month.
It's time to start thinking about your contribution to
Wonderground.
DRS Membership
Subscriptions for membership of DRS have remained at the current
low rate for several years. The Council of DRS has therefore
recently decided to raise member subscriptions. This is a
needed and fair increase.
However, we are holding the present low rate for the time being,
pending an announcement to members. If you would like to join
the society at the low rate of UKP20, please do it now at:
http://www.designresearchsociety.org and 'join DRS'
David Durling
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Design Studies
Design Studies, Volume 26, Number 6, November 2005
Table of Contents:
Encouraging reuse of design knowledge: a method to index
knowledge
S. Ahmed
pp 565-592
How good are good ideas? Correlates of design creativity
G. Goldschmidt, D. Tatsa
pp 593-611
Design ideation: the conceptual sketch in the digital age
B. Jonson
pp 613-624
Do word graphs stimulate design?
N.M. Segers, B. de Vries, H.H. Achten
pp 625-647
A study of prototypes, design activity, and design outcome
M.C. Yang
pp 649-669
Full texts available via ScienceDirect:
ScienceDirect (http://www.sciencedirect.com) provides
subscribers with online access to the full text of more than
1,800 journals. If your institute does not subscribe to the
journal you are interested in, ScienceDirect offers you the
possibility to pay per article. Simply click on the 'full text
link' of the article you would like to read, pay with your
credit card and you will be granted 24 hour access to the
article.
For more information about the journal visit:
http://www.elsevier.com/locate/destud
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CALLS
A number of calls and information regarding AI EDAM Journal:
Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and
Manufacturing
http://web.cs.wpi.edu/~aiedam/
SPECIAL ISSUES
Calls for Papers:
Vol.20, No.4, November 2006
http://www.cs.wpi.edu/~aiedam/SpecialIssues/OSullivan.html
Designing with Constraints Guest Ed.: Barry O'Sullivan
Please send Intent to Submit email (with Title) AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE to Guest Ed. Barry O'Sullivan (b.osullivan @
cs.ucc.ie) with subject=AIEDAM Special Issue
Submission Date: WAS 3 October 2005 <<<<<
Vol.21, No.2, Spring 2007
http://www.cs.wpi.edu/~aiedam/SpecialIssues/Segers-Leclercq.html
Computational Linguistics for Design, Maintenance and
Manufacturing Edited by: Nicole Segers & Pierre Leclercq
Please send Intent to Submit email (with Title) AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE to Guest Ed. Nicole Segers (nicole.segers @
tweesnoeken.nl) or Pierre Leclercq (pierre.leclercq @
ulg.ac.be) with subject=AIEDAM Special Issue
Submission Date: 22 March 2006
Vol.21, No.3, Summer 2007
http://www.cs.wpi.edu/~aiedam/SpecialIssues/Fruchter-Maher.html
Support for Design Teams Edited by: Renate Fruchter & Mary Lou
Maher
Please send Intent to Submit email (with Title) AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE to Guest Ed. Renate Fruchter (fruchter @ stanford.edu)
or Mary Lou Maher (mary @ arch.usyd.edu.au) with
subject=AIEDAM Special Issue
Tentative Submission Date: 1st May 2006
Special Issues to Appear:
Vol.19, No.2 & 3, 2005
Engineering Applications of Representations of Function
Vol.19 No.4, Fall 2005
Design Computing & Cognition
Vol.20, No.2, Spring 2006
Design Spaces: the Explicit Representation of Spaces of
Alternatives
Vol.20, No.3, Summer 2006
Understanding, Representing and Reasoning about Style
Vol.20, No.4, Fall 2006
Designing with Constraints (CfP)
Vol.21, No.2, Spring 2007
Computational Linguistics for Design, Maintenance and
Manufacturing (CfP)
Vol.21, No.3, Summer 2007
Support for Design Teams (CfP)
Vol.21, No.4, Fall 2007
Design Computing & Cognition (DCC'06)
Vol.22, No.2, Spring 2008
Multi-modal Design (CfP)
Vol.22, No.3, Summer 2008
Design Rationale (CfP)
Please see <http://www.cs.wpi.edu/~aiedam/> for additional
information about the journal and how to submit an unsolicited
paper.
CALL FOR CHAPTERS
VIRTUAL TEAMS AND CREATIVITY: MANAGING VIRTUAL TEAMS EFFECTIVELY
FOR HIGHER CREATIVITY
A book edited by Dr. Steven P. MacGregor, University of Girona
and Dr. Teresa Torres, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain
INTRODUCTION
Virtual teams constitute a relatively new knowledge area for
both the academic and industrial domains. Although the use of
virtual teams is often a reactive measure in response to company
constraints, the potential benefits of leveraging resources from
different locations can make them a proactive choice. Creativity
is often at the core of such proactive decisions.
It is time to produce new approaches to further the creative
ability of virtual teams - achieving high levels of creative
performance is still an un-resolved problem. Little research
exists on how a virtual team can use creativity to perform
better, or how to build a creative virtual environment. With
greater emphasis being placed on creative thinking and
processes, ever-higher demands are being placed on team creative
performance with the aim of producing more successful
organizations that are innovative and adaptable. The purpose of
this book is to address such challenges.
THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE BOOK
A thorough understanding of creativity and how it is affected
when people are connected virtually is critical for the
effectiveness of such teams. To this end, the book will invite
contributions from both the academic and industrial communities.
This overall mission is addressed through the following
objectives:
- Show the power of virtual teams for boosting creativity;
- Provide state of the art academic research on the phenomena of
creativity and its behavior when people are part of virtual
teams;
- Present experiences from leading firms where the use of
virtual teams was used for, or resulted in, higher levels of
creativity;
- Detail the use of new technology which aids the quest for
creativity in virtual teams;
- Detail processes which may be used to support the
technological aspect of virtual creativity.
THE TARGET AUDIENCE
Given the mission and objectives stated above, the audience will
come from both the academic and industrial communities,
specifically:
- Academics working in the areas of virtual teams and/or
creativity, including those from the fields of engineering,
psychology, anthropology, and management.
- Managers charged with implementing virtual teams in their
organizations, specifically those who aim to move their firms
towards best in class.
- Consultants, and research and business school students eager
to gain an understanding of real implementation issues
concerning virtual teams in leading organizations.
RECOMMENDED TOPICS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE
FOLLOWING:
The theory of creativity and virtual teams
- The concept of creativity and optimum conditions
- The advantages and disadvantages of virtual creativity
- Studies of improving creativity in virtual domains
- Models for optimizing creativity in virtual teams
The practice of creativity and virtual teams
- Tools and technology to support creativity in virtual teams
- Case studies on virtual teams charged with improving
creativity
- Hardwiring virtual teams creativity to the innovation goals of
a business
SUBMISSION PROCEDURE
Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before
November 30, 2005, a 2-5 page manuscript proposal clearly
explaining the mission and concerns of the proposed chapter.
Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by December 31,
2005 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter
organizational guidelines. Full chapters are expected to be
submitted by April 30, 2006. All submitted chapters will be
reviewed on a double blind review basis. The book is scheduled
to be published by Idea Group, Inc., publisher of the "Idea
Group Publishing", "Information Science" and IRM Press imprints
in 2007.
Inquiries and submissions should be e-mailed to:
Steven MacGregor ([log in to unmask]) and Teresa Torres
([log in to unmask])
SARAI FELLOWSHIPS Applications are invited for the upcoming
cycle of fellowships supported by Sarai and the Centre for the
Study of Developing Societies 9 in Delhi.
http://www.sarai.net
International Conference on Asian Comics, Animation & Gaming
(ACAG 2006)
Overview
The goal of the ACAG 2006 conference is to provide an
international forum for presenting recent research on the
emerging cultural markets in China and the Asian countries and
to investigate the transnational issues of Asian cultural
products, focusing on comics, animation and digital games in
relation with the global world. The purpose of the conference
is to promote scholarship and intellectual engagement between
academics and cultural production professionals on the
conference themes and topics from various backgrounds.
Themes
Cultural economy and transnational imaginary
Topics
Papers that explore critical, philosophical and creative
issues on Asian comics, animation, and digital games by drawing
on the methodological and conceptual knowledge from a variety of
disciplines are invited. Possible disciplines and topics may
include, but are not limited to the following:
- Cultural economy, product, market and industry
- Cultural studies and cultural identity
- East Asian Studies, South Asian Studies, Asia-Pacific studies
- Anime and manga studies
- Gender studies and body
- Sociology, class and consumer cultures
- Critical theory and representation
- Human/cultural geography
- Cross-cultural comparisons
- Religious themes
- History and cultural change
- Aesthetic and creativity
- Film studies
- Fan culture and lifestyle studies
- Cyberspace and Internet world
- East and West Philosophy
- Psychology
- Localism, Globalism, Transnationalism
Keynote speakers
1) Professor John Lent, Mass Media and Communication Program,
Temple University
2) TBC
Important dates
Submission of abstracts: November 21, 2005
Acceptance of abstracts: December 7, 2005
Submission of full papers for review: March 1, 2006
Acceptance of full papers with revisions: March 15, 2006
Accepted papers due: April 3, 2006
Conference: May 18-19, 2006
Abstract requirements
Initial submission should be in form of a word document attached
to an email and submitted electronically to [log in to unmask]
with the subject heading "ACAG abstract submission." Each
abstract should be no longer than 200 words, including the title
(and subtitle if applicable), name(s) of the author(s),
affiliations, mailing address(es), email address(es), two or
three keywords that describe the submission. Submissions must
be received by November 21, 2005.
Refereeing of papers
Selection of full papers for presentation will be a two-stage
process. First, all abstracts will be reviewed. Author(s)
selected will be invited to submit a full paper (no longer than
3000 words) for a further review process. Both abstracts and
full papers will be peer reviewed by a panel of experts in the
related fields. Selected abstracts and full papers will be
published in the refereed conference proceedings.
Conference organization
This conference is being organized by York Centre for Asian
Research (YCAR). For general enquiries or further information,
please contact Conference Chair: Conference Chair: Dr. Wendy
Siuyi Wong, Associate Director, YCAR; Department of Design,
Faculty of Fine Arts, York University. Email: [log in to unmask]
27 February - 5 March 2006: DESIGN AS SEEING AS THINKING
Kadir Has University 6th International Istanbul Interaction
Design Workshop Young Instructor Training Program
Endorsed by UNESCO-YASMIN program
Curator: Prof.Dr. Oguzhan Ozcan, Yildiz Technical University
Supervisor: Prof. Roberley Bell, Rochester Institute of
Technology
Aim and Scope:
The focus of this workshop will be to enhance the quality of
Teaching by young instructors in interactive media design
through developing their knowledge base of the principles of
design and the process of problem finding and problem solving. A
series of design problems will be explored using local as a
point of departure.
Participants will explore the physical, geographic, cultural
region of Istanbul and through systems of observation and
methods of recording information address cross cultural
interpretations of place. The design problem and process will be
linked to methods and strategies for improving their skills in
the classroom.
Background of Applicants:
We are looking for 21 highly talented young instructors or PhD
Students who currently teach in basic design course at
Department of Communication Design, Interactive Media Design,
Multimedia Art or relevant art and design disciplines.
http://www.idws.info (will be active from October 17)
3-6 May 2006: Second International Congress of Qualitative
Inquiry University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
"The 2006 Congress will explore experiences with and criticisms
of Institutional Review Boards. It will question the
over-reliance of audit cultures on evidence-based,
neo-experimental models of inquiry. The 2006 Congress will
investigate new ways of decolonizing traditional methodologies.
It will take up performative, feminist, indigenous, democratic
and participatory forms of critical inquiry. The 2006 Congress
will examine how these new forms of inquiry can advance the
goals of social justice and progressive politics in this new
century."
http://www.QI2006.org/
3rd International Conference at the Centre for Learning and
Teaching in Art & Design, Portugal: Call for Papers
The theme of the 3rd International Conference at the Centre for
Learning and Teaching in Art & Design (CLTAD) in Portugal is:
'Enhancing Curricula: contributing to the future, meeting the
challenges of the 21st century in the disciplines of art, design
and communication'. The conference will be held 6 > 7 April 2006
at the Hotel Sana Park in Lisbon, Portugal and is currently
calling for papers.
For more information, please visit: http://www.cltad.ac.uk
7-8 July 2005: RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE 2006
SECOND CALL FOR PAPERS (deadline 6 February 2006)
The fourth international biennial conference on the foundations
of practice-based research in art and design will be convened at
the University of Hertfordshire, UK, on 7 & 8 July 2006.
The theme of RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE 2006 is the role of the
context in the interpretation of artefacts and visual semantics
in art and design research.
In recent years there has been much international debate about
the role of the artefact in art and design research. The debate
has considered, for example, what contribution the artefact
makes to the research process and to the communication of the
outcomes. However, artefacts are not interpreted in isolation.
The question of what contribution the artefact makes has to be
considered in the light of how the artefact is interpreted. This
interpretation takes place in a context; for example in the
studio, in a gallery, in the market place, online, in the
context of "research" or in the context of "design", etc.
Research into Practice 2006 focuses on these contexts and
explores the instrumentality of the context on the reception of
artefacts as constituting or contributing to research.
http://www.herts.ac.uk/artdes1/research/res2prac/index.html
3-4 March 2006: Failure: Ethics and Aesthetics. University of
California, Irvine
The Visual Studies Graduate Student Association at the
University of California, Irvine, calls for papers from a
wide-range of areas of study that investigate and critically
explore, contest, engage with, the concept of "failure."
The concept of failure has always remained closely tied to that
of progress: economically, morally, culturally, and politically.
In an effort to denaturalize this binary, we would like to
examine what failure means through papers that deal critically
with its various forms in both historical and contemporary
circumstances, not only because this will help us understand how
narratives of success and progress operate, but also because we
wonder what potential "failure" as a political and aesthetic
tactic may offer. Might we discover a "loser theory"? We ask for
papers that do not just explore failed visions or failed
experiments, but that examine what those particular failures
mean, generate, expose. In addition, we recognize that in the
past two decades a new archetype of success has emerged in
popular culture, in the figure of the slacker-for example, MTV's
Jackass and the musician Beck's "Loser," while politics and art
provide other examples-the media image of President George W.
Bush as an "average guy" and the video art of Tony Oursler. At
these moments, failure functions as a hollow gesture, a style.
On the other hand, the discourses of deconstruction and
poststructuralism show us that failure-failures of
understanding, of communication, of translation, of
domination-might have radical political potential. The binary of
success and failure translates into an economic realm as well,
with success equated with financial accumulation and failure
with poverty. What has this meant for colonial projects of
emancipation and their postcolonial entry onto the international
stage? With this in mind, how might failure provide a location
for revolutionary activity, political critique, or aesthetic
experimentation? How does visual culture mobilize the concept of
failure beyond empty aesthetics? Might the concept failure
provide an ethics of its own?
In addition to academic papers, we invite participation from
practicing artists, filmmakers, and videomakers. We are
committed to opening our community to intellectual and creative
producers who critically and rigorously engage in rethinking
"failure," regardless of artistic or academic identification.
[log in to unmask]
18-19 May 2006: PERSUASIVE 06. Eindhoven, The Netherlands
First international conference on PERSUASIVE technology for
human well-being
Conference Aim
Can computers help fight obesity? Can technology motivate you to
waste less energy? Can communication devices help overcome
racial prejudice? Can a virtual agent persuade you to break your
smoking habit? Can a mobile phone help you study? Can a robot
challenge you to perform rehabilitation exercises?
PERSUASIVE 06 is aimed at exploring technology in the service of
human well-being, within the broader context of a socially and
ecologically sustainable society. Join academic researchers,
designers, and technology developers from around the world in
investigating the potential of persuasive technologies to
positively affect human attitudes and behaviour.
The goal of PERSUASIVE 06 is to bring together a
multidisciplinary group of social scientists studying
persuasion, and engineers developing persuasive technologies in
areas such as health and rehabilitation, housing, information
and communication, and energy conservation, so they can meet,
share experiences, present research, and exchange ideas.
Key themes of the conference include, but are not limited to:
(1) Health, comfort, and wellbeing, (2) Sustainability, (3)
Education and training, (4) Communication, (5) Decision making,
(6) Ethics of persuasive technology, (7) Theories of persuasion
and related topics such as motivation, credibility, trust and
control.
Call for Papers
Academics and practitioners with an interest in research,
theory, technologies, design, and applications related to
persuasion are invited to submit their work for presentation at
PERSUASIVE 06 at the Eindhoven University of Technology,
Eindhoven, The Netherlands, 18-19 May 2006.
The conference welcomes original papers that are based on
empirical results from studies of persuasive technologies, in
particular as they are applied to areas of human well-being.
Papers that make substantial advances in theoretical
understanding of persuasion or contribute to the development of
relevant technologies are also welcome, provided they are
clearly related to the overall theme of the conference.
Submissions will be rigorously reviewed, using blind
peer-review. High quality papers are therefore sought which make
substantial contributions to the field.
Deadline: November 15, 2005.
http://www.persuasivetechnology.org/
25-27 April 2006: THE SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
ADAPTIVE COMPUTING IN DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE. ENGINEERS HOUSE,
CLIFTON, BRISTOL, UK (ACDM 2006)
CALL FOR PAPERS
As in previous years, the Conference will explore the
integration of Evolutionary search, exploration and optimisation
and associated Computational Intelligence (CI) technologies
(e.g. neural computing, intelligent agent systems, fuzzy logic
etc) across a wide spectrum of design and manufacturing
activities. Areas of interest include but are not restricted to:
- the development and integration of appropriate evolutionary
and adaptive computing strategies with conceptual, embodiment
and detailed design;
- novel application of evolutionary and computational
intelligence strategies to (or integration with) complex
manufacturing systems;
- resource scheduling and planning; facility layout; supply
chain design and management; business organisational design;
- evolutionary in-silico drug discovery processes, reagent
library search, de novo molecule design;
- evolutionary software design systems;
- co-operative frameworks supporting the utilisation of
evolutionary search and other CI technologies within a design /
manufacturing environment.
- the application of novel evolutionary computing techniques and
strategies that address specific design / analysis problems of
high complexity.
- evolutionary and CI strategies for component modelling and
systems identification.
- conceptual design search and exploration; human-centred
aspects and interactive evolutionary decision-support systems.
- modelling of and searching across, uncertain / poorly-defined
decision-making environments.
- multi-objective satisfaction and optimisation.
- search and optimisation within heavily constrained domains.
- Web / Grid-based evolutionary tools for design and manufacture
- accessibility and utility; provision of multi-disciplinary
search and optimisation requirements within distributed Problem
Solving Environments (PSEs).
- reducing computational expense during detailed design,
analysis and optimisation.
- best practice re integration with high-performance computing,
parallel architectures etc
- supporting innovative and creative design.
- data mining; the identification of optimal design information;
appropriate presentation of data generated from evolutionary
search, exploration and optimisation.
- evolvable hardware design.
- robotics and control.
Applied, theoretical, results-oriented and speculative papers
from both academe and industry will all be considered for
inclusion. Application papers must exhibit novel aspects
relating to evolutionary / computational intelligence system
design and implementation.
http://www.ad-comtech.co.uk/ACDM06
Call for Papers: Special Issue of Building, Research and
Information Visual Practices - Images of Knowledge Work
Guest Editors: Jennifer Whyte and Boris Ewenstein, Innovation
Studies Center, Tanaka Business School, Imperial College London
Visual materials such as plans, sections, sketches, photos and
slide shows are the everyday focus of many activities in the
design, construction and management of the built environment.
Although there has been an increase in social scientific studies
of work practices, the various elements of visual practice
remain under-researched. Non-verbal, visual modes of
representing, thinking and communicating pose a challenge to
researchers who generally prioritize linguistic expression in
their own work. Whilst challenging to study, interactions with
visual materials and technologies are central to the
knowledge-intensive work of practitioners in the built
environment. This special issue invites researchers and
practitioners to reflect on how knowledge is developed through
interaction with visual artifacts and tools.
You are invited to submit an abstract for a research paper in
this special issue of Building Research and Information on
Visual Practices. The purpose of the special issue is to develop
and extend the growing body of research aimed at understanding
professionals' visual practices in organizations. Furthermore,
we seek to address the research, policy and management
implications of different visual practices in the built
environment.
In the first instance, please send a 500 word abstract to Boris
Ewenstein ([log in to unmask]). Abstracts will be
reviewed to ensure a varied, yet integrated selection of papers
around the topic of the special issue. Authors of accepted
abstracts will be invited to submit a full paper (of 4000-6000
words), which will be subject to a double-blind review process.
Timetable:
Abstracts agreed with guest editors November 1st 2005
Full Paper January 14th 2005 Referees
Comments April 17th 2006 Final Draft of
Papers June 15th 2006
Abstracts and enquiries should be directed to Boris Ewenstein
([log in to unmask]). We look forward to receiving your
submissions.
BUILDING RESEARCH AND INFORMATION
http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/09613218.asp
23-25 November 2005: 2nd Brazilian Art and Design Workshop for
Computer Games and Digital Entertainment GameArt 2005. Sao
Paulo, setembro de 2005
1st call for participation
This is the second edition of the Art and Design Workshop for
Computer Games and Digital Entertainment - GameArt 2005.
GameArt was born from the increasing demand for academic events
where the Art and Design community could present and discuss
issues and works related to Computer Games and Digital
Entertainment.
It will take place in the city of Sao Paulo, BrasilBrazil, from
the 23rd to the 25th of November, 2005, and will be part of the
2st SBGames in which will also be parthost WJogos, a pioneer
workshop in the game area field in Brazil, and In2Games, an
industry related event.
http://www.sbgames.org.br
3rd Cambridge Workshop on UNIVERSAL ACCESS and ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY (CWUAAT)
CWUAAT '06 (incorporating the 6th Cambridge Workshop on
Rehabilitation Robotics) is the third of a series of workshops
that are held every two years and follows on from the highly
successful CWUAAT 02 and CWUAAT 04.
ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS OPEN AT:-
https://www-edc.eng.cam.ac.uk/cwuaat/cwuaatsubmissions/
Reflecting the spirit of recent moves to extend the rights for
universal accessibility, these workshops are aimed at a broader
range of interests, although still with a general emphasis on
the development of practical systems. The range of requirements
extends from identifying and capturing the needs of the users,
through to the development and evaluation of truly usable and
accessible systems for users with special needs. Such users
include, but are not limited to, those with functional
impairments and the elderly.
http://rehab-www.eng.cam.ac.uk/cwuaat/cwuaat06.htm
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ITCon and IT-AEC Merge
Two journals merged to create a powerful media for open access
academic publishing in construction IT.
Due to the general development of the Internet and of Scientific
Electronic Publishing in particular refereed journal publishing
is currently undergoing fundamental changes resulting in
increasing demand from the academic community for open access to
journal articles. In line with this development the editors of
ITCon and IT- AEC have decided to merge the two journals in
order to create a strong Open Access journal devoted to
Information and Communication Technology in Construction
research.
This merger brings together the already strongly overlapping
research communities which have worked on publishing the two
journals as editors, guest editors of special issues, reviewers
and authors. Professor Anumba has been appointed co-editor of
ITCon and the editorial boards of the two journals have been
merged. The new journal builds on the proven strength of the
"Open Source" like actions of the scientific community itself,
bypassing inefficient commercial intermediaries in allowing
scientists to communicate their results directly and efficiently
to other researchers as well as practitioners.
The merger is put into effect immediately. The new journal
continues to use the name Electronic Journal of Information
Technology in Construction (ITCon) which over its ten year's
history has both proved the viability of the Open Access
publishing model for this scientific community as well as
established itself as a quality brand. ITCon is indexed in the
Directory of Open Access Journals currently listing over 1500
such journals and articles are easy to find in full text using
general Web search engines. Regular readers are also served by
email alerts about new articles call for special issues etc.
by Bo-Christer Bjork
http://www.itcon.org
22-25 November 2005: Fifth International Conference on Human
System Learning. Marrakech, Morocco
Common Innovation in e-learning, Machine Learning and Humanoid
approaches: Human System Learning: Who is in Control?
ICHSL conferences
Human System Learning International Conferences are organized as
a cross-platform for the study and analysis of the latest
research and developments issues related to Human System
Learning. What makes this conference unique is the interaction
of different disciplines with regard to their approach, methods
and techniques for the application of advanced technologies.
Specifics of disciplines are not only the subject of the
conference but serve as cases. Cross-platform discussions and
interactions help to enhance the scope of these technologies
beyond their existing application limits. Furthermore, we seek a
discussion of terms and conditions for introducing new tools
(offered by the latest research and developments results) and
new strategies (required by the inevitable changes of the
professional and educational working environments).
ICHSL.5 Main Scope
The Information Society is burgeoning and new technology is
shifting educational, learning and training paradigms. Virtual
Universities, Cyber-Classrooms, e-Learning, Wireless Based
Learning, Humanoid Robots, Data Mining, Text Mining, Web
Semantic, etc. may be cryptic catch phrases now but will be
within the main learning and teaching norm in a very near
future. Mining tools have become the more popular Machine
Learning issues. The fifth ICHSL observes that, Machine
Learning, Humanoid (mainly Human Robot Interaction) and
e-Learning system have proved the necessity of integrating high
level interactive approaches. This means most validated
information has to be retrieved, extracted and transferred
within a Human Computer Collaborative approach in which both
Human and Machine learn from each other. In every validated
information production process roles between users and computers
are continually exchanged. Sometimes decisions are owned and
controlled by the machine and at other times by users. In
summary, Interactive M.L. Humanoid Robot and e-Learning tools
have to adopt a user driven design approach. They should learn
from and about their users. Both E-learning systems and Humanoid
Robots must embed some machine learning tools. Moreover, an
efficient Interactive Machine Learning system (during the
information construction or validation) has to consider very
powerful pedagogical and sensitive approaches in order to be
able to learn from their users. From this perspective we can
observe that distances between Interactive Machine Learning,
Humanoid Robot and e-Learning have become closer and closer.
ICHSL.5 is seeking to explore this central issue.
Call for Participation - Online Registration
http://europia.org/ICHSL5
http://www.certic.unicaen.fr/ICHSL5
24-27 October 2005: Designing Pleasurable Products and
Interfaces DPPI 05, the conference on Designing Pleasurable
Products and Interfaces Eindhoven University of Technology
We challenge you to participate in an exhilarating week of
listening, doing, science, designing, exploring, discussing,
learning and having fun. The organizing committee did its best
to build an attractive program for you. As any conference, we
have paper and poster presentations, and invited speakers.
However, we have more. There will be a full day of hands-on
design for all participants. In addition, alongside the
conference, a Design Competition was organized. We will
introduce you to the new Department of Industrial Design at the
TU/e, with its radically new teaching methods. You will also
have the chance to explore Philips Research and Philips Design.
The organizing committee wants to break new grounds with this
conference. It primarily focuses on product design, and the
creation of a design science. The only thing you need to do is
to join your enthusiasm for these subjects to ours.
http://www.industrialdesign.tue.nl/conference/dppi2005/
18 November 2005: 'Designing for Life' conference
The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) is
holding a one day conference in Birmingham UK on 18 November
entitled 'Designing for Life'.
This conference will facilitate discussion on and raise
awareness of the concept of designing the built environment for
the life of its users. It will include sustainable communities
and the whole of life use of structures and buildings.
Discussion will encompass new acts, regulations and policies
affecting design, development and construction in the built
environment.
This one-day conference will be based at Austin Court Conference
Centre in the heart of Birmingham. Running alongside the
conference programme will be a complementary product exhibition.
For further information and to book please visit
http://www.ciat.org.uk/
Vacancy PhD 'Sensory Dominance in Product Design'
When people perceive objects in real-life situations, they use
all their senses to obtain information. Product designers mostly
strive for a product that communicates a coherent message. For
example, a designer of a coffeemaker may want the machine to
communicate cosiness through all the senses.
However, in some cases, a product communicates conflicting
messages. For example, the sound of the popular Senseo
coffeemaker is too loud and rough to contribute to the cosiness
of the coffee drinking experience. How does a user integrate the
information when message content conflicts? Popular belief holds
that vision dominates the other senses. Perception researchers
have concluded, however, that the relative importance of a
modality depends on the characteristics of the stimuli and on
the evaluations the observer makes.
Because the scientific literature on sensory dominance in
real-life situations is scarce and fragmented, the candidate
will help to build a theoretical framework that describes how
the sensory modalities cooperate in user-product interactions.
In addition, a number of experiments are conducted to assess the
relative importance of the senses for various products. The
candidate will make products that communicate conflicting
messages through the different senses. The effects of these
messages on the evaluation of the product experience are
determined.
The knowledge obtained in this project can help designers to
create products with which people can interact in a more
natural, more efficient, safer, and more interesting way.
Candidate
The candidate for this PhD position should have an MSc in
Industrial Design with interest and experience in experimental
consumer research or an MSc in Psychology with interest in
product design. Experience with projects focusing on the sensory
aspects of design is appreciated.
Information
More information about the content of this project can be
obtained from Dr. Rick Schifferstein, Department of Industrial
Design, tel. +31 15 278 7896, email
[log in to unmask] or http://
studiolab.io.tudelft.nl/schifferstein/.
DESIGN AND THE GROWTH OF KNOWLEDGE Three eminent researchers
discuss designing as form of research in this symposium in Delft
(The Netherlands) on November 10. Brenda Laurel, Gillian
Crampton-Smith, and Kun-Pyo Lee will look at the ways design
generates knowledge which can be used beyond the product at hand
and thereby generate wholly new ideas. The event is hosted by
the Technical University of Delft. Thursday November 10.
Contact: Pieter Jan Stappers: [log in to unmask]
3-5 November 2005: AIGA, ACM SIGGRAPH, and ACM SIGCHI
Announcing the DUX 2005 Conference Program "Designing for User
eXperience" (DUX) Conference. San Francisco
Highlights of the three day conference, including some yet to
make it onto the website:
- Studio Tours -- a packed day for attendees who take a
self-guided visit to San Francisco's premier design studios.
- Tutorials -- half- and full-day sessions introducing attendees
to powerful research and design methodologies.
- Special Events -- outstanding opening and closing plenary
sessions, along with an invited panel of of design luminaries,
festive receptions, book signings, and exhibit activities. An
exciting evening on Thursday, Nov. 3rd will feature 2005 Tony
Award-winning actor and MacArthur Award recipient Bill Irwin,
comedian and performer Heather Gold, interactive artist J.Walt
Adamczyk, and a special recognition of World Usability Day. The
closing plenary on Saturday, Nov. 5th will offer a unique talk
from award winning author and consultant Edward Tenner.
- Conference Sessions -- a powerful program of 60 agency,
industry and academic case studies, research studies, practice
studies, sketches and posters, from diverse cultural
geographies, spanning a broad range of design exploration.
Unique topics for this year include the e-commerce of diamond
buying, context-aware mobile computing, responsive work and home
environments, personalized information filtering, and effective
means of bridging cultures.
http://www.dux2005.org
To mark 2005 as the Year of Design, the Danish Research Council
on Culture and Communication has just published a special issue
of Humaniora on design with articles by leading Danish scholars
in design research and design education.
Thomas Schodt Rasmussen writes on the importance of theory and
critical studies in developing design education for today's
world, Merete Ahnfeldt-Mollerup writes on the nature of design
as a field of inquiry and practice, there is a strategic
overview of design and research by Carsten Friberg, Lars Dybdahl
writes on humanistic studies and the interdisciplinary nature of
design education, Anne Strange Stelzner writes on confronting
modernism, and Ken Friedman writes on how today's knowledge
economy has expanded the challenges for design and designers.
Copies are available for free download in .pdf format. Mainly
in Danish.
Go to the web site:
http://www.forsk.dk/fkk/humaniora
then click on the line
Humaniora nr. 3 - 2005 i pdf-format
November 3, 2005 is World Usability Day (WUD), an event that
will spread the word about making products and services easier
to use:
http://www.worldusabilityday.org
Part of WUD will be an accessibility webcast -- an exciting,
24-hour global conversation about accessibility and usability:
http://www.inclusive.com/WUD_access
Dozens of experts will be sharing their work with you on
technology, policy, and consumer involvement. And you can
participate right from your desktop.
Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC), would like to invite you to
the Business of Design Week (BODW) 2005, which will be held from
19 to 23 November 2005 at the Hong Kong Convention and
Exhibition Centre.
Riding on our success in previous years, BODW has established
its reputation as one of the world's leading annual conferences
on design, branding and innovation, and has gained wide support
from various sectors including art and design, business,
industry, academic as well as the government.
Your participation in this event will be of great importance to
us. I am pleased to enclose herewith the latest marketing
brochures for your information. Please register online at
http://www.bodw.com.hk/ or fill out the registration form as
attached and we will handle your registration accordingly.
We look forward to hearing from you soon. Should you need
further information on BODW 2005, please feel free to contact Ms
Coco Poon of Zenith Events. She can be reached on +852 2233 9343
or by email at [log in to unmask]
Ministry of Culture in the Slovak Republic announces plan to
close down Slovak Design Centre
Members and supporters of the Slovak Design Centre (SDC)
recently issued a letter expressing their deep concerns about
the Ministry of Culture's surprise decision to close their
institution as of 1 January 2006. Because there were no public
consultations on this matter previous to the announcement, the
Slovak design community is still reeling from its possible
repercussions and has launched a call for support from the
international design community.
Read this leading story at
http://www.icograda.org/web/news.shtml
Stretching paradigms: What is the best way for a designer to
extend his/her vision, understanding and respect?
39% Broad cultural exposure through reading, film and
exhibition- going, etc. 58% Cultivation of relationships with
people from other cultures. 6% Periodical cleansing of one's
mind through something akin to meditation.
STUDENT BURSARIES FOR CHART 2005
The AHRB ICT Methods Network, which aims to promote and develop
the use of advanced ICT methods in Arts and Humanities research,
is offering a limited number of bursaries to post-graduate
students who wish to attend the 2005 CHArt conference, THEORY
AND PRACTICE, which will be held on 10 and 11 November 2005 at
the British Academy, London.
Applications for bursaries are sought from post-graduate
students whose research interests are grounded in areas covered
by CHArt. These include:
- the application of ICT to the study of art and the history of
art;
- new media theory and new art practice;
- creation and curation of digital scholarly and image resources
including those in museums, galleries or libraries, and other
areas which may be considered to be within CHArt's sphere of
interest.
The bursaries are intended to help towards conference expenses.
Successful applicants will be able to claim funds up to a total
of UKP200 toward the cost of conference fees, accommodation and
travel.
Application involves the submission of a brief statement of
interest (approximately 500 words) outlining your current
studies and research interests and detailing how attending CHArt
might support you in your research.
If you wish to apply for a bursary please register for the CHARt
conference in the first instance. The CHArt conference programme
and abstracts are available on the CHArt website
http://www.chart.ac.uk
Please address any enquiries to Hazel Gardiner, CHArt, Centre
for Computing in the Humanities, Kings College, Kay House, 7
Arundel Street, WC2R 3DX. 020 7848 2013,
[log in to unmask]
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
WEB
The EPSRC/AHRC Design and Performance Research Cluster Emergent
Objects, hosted by the School of Performance and Cultural
Industries at the University of Leeds, have launched their new
website. Areas covered are the cluster's research interests such
as performance, design, robotics, digital design and more. The
site now features a comprehensive resources section with a
bibliography as well as an extensive collection of links
including conferences, journals and newsletters. Users are
invited to register and join the discussion board.
Current members include:
- Central School of Speech and Drama
- thePooch at Lancaster University
- Ultralab, Anglia Polytechnic University
- Digital Research Unit at the Media Centre Huddersfield
- The Shadow Robot Company Ltd.
- KMA Interactive Media Ltd.
- Newham Sixth Form College
http://www.emergentobjects.co.uk
Website for our Attainable Utopias Network...
1) website Attainable Utopias [Au]
http://attainable-utopias.org/
this includes 2 other items including details of our ICA
conference event on 18th November
2) event ICA conference http://attainable-utopias.org/tiki
3) Design Synergy in Metadesign project It also contains web
pages for the ds21 (part of the Design For the 21st Century
clusters projects - funded by AHRC and EPSRC).
http://attainable-utopias.org/ds21
The theme of the special issue of Journal of Research Practice
is "New Challenges for Research Practice: Integration Research
for Natural Resource Management in Australia."
http://jrp.icaap.org/contents.php
FRIENDSOFWISDOM
A group concerned that academic inquiry should help humanity
acquire more wisdom by rational means. Wisdom is taken to be
the capacity to realize what is of value in life, for oneself
and others. It includes knowledge, understanding and
technological know- how, and much else besides.
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/FRIENDSOFWISDOM
The latest Artifact Newsletter - September 2005 is now
available at:
http://www.artifact.ac.uk/news/newsletters/september05.htm
Contents of September's Newsletter:
- A selection of web resources added by the Artifact team
including the freelance Artifact cataloguers during September.
- A new facility to search 'On This Date'... for more details
see: http://www.artifact.ac.uk/onthisdate.php
- September and October Limelight features - with the new
feature for October looking at the Jerwood Applied Arts Prize
for metal, which was won on 26th September by German-born
artist, Simone ten Hompel.
- New and improved Fashion and Beauty subject headings
- Announcements, notices and forthcoming events:
The BDI Valuation Survey, now in its fifth year, is the only
industry- wide survey that specifically focuses on the 'UK
commercial design consultancy' sector.
http://core.icograda.org/web/pdfs/BDI_FINAL_survey05_v1.pdf
________________________________________________________________
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BOOKS
What are design books for?
A review of
Buerdek, Bernhard E. 2004. Design. Geschichte, Theorie und
Praxis der Produktgestaltung Dritte, vollstaendig ueberarbeitete
und erweiterte Auflage. Basel: Birkhaeuser.
The reviewer's first check: am I referred to? A very
comprehensive index, but, no, I am not. Well, that was to be
expected, since I have heavily criticized parts of the 1991
edition in my own book (Jonas 1994), mainly the rigid concept of
"product language". After all I am in excellent company of not
being mentioned.
The title restricts the concept of design to
"Produktgestaltung", which is the formgiving of artefacts; at
the same time it states the ambitious claim to present design in
an extremely broad and comprehensive manner: history, theory and
practice, on a global scale! Criticism is missing, if one
chooses to follow one of the various categorizations of the
field.
Let's start with the appearance. The 1991 edition still gave the
impression of a working medium. Layout, typography, and
selection of pictures in the 2005 edition indicate a clear step
towards a "coffeetable-book" (without being one). Content will
have to be examined in more detail. Thus the question: Why
writing a book on design? Or: What are design books for?
The collection is by no means complete, but serves the reviewer
as a kind of checklist:
- they can demonstrate design's contribution to innovation in
complex real world situations,
with an economic focus, or
with a social focus,
- they can aim at strengthening design's academic position in a
university context,
through aiming at a design specific history of design,
through struggling for systematic foundations and identity,
or through tackling specific research problems,
- they may present design as a fancy lifestyle medium,
- they may have an encyclopaedic character as sourcebooks for
students and researchers, or for interested laymen,
- they may want to be provocations,
- etc.
Einleitung (7-12)
Design als Begriff (13-16)
No new definition is attempted, but functions / tasks of design
are indicated, which illustrate the product-focus:
- visualizing technological progress,
- facilitating use and operation of products,
- clarifying relations of production, consumption and re-use,
- promoting and communicating services, and even
- preventing senseless products.
Design und Geschichte (17-70)
Design history is presented from a German perspective.
Pre-Bauhaus design history is covered in 6 small pages + some
pictures. If, for example, the so-called "Werkbund-Streit" of
1914 is mentioned in just one sentence, then this is too brief
to be of any value. Bauhaus history presents some well-known
facts. HfG Ulm is the first focus: a mixture of facts and
interpretation, which sometimes produces some contradictions.
For example: The author questions (46) whether Ulm has developed
a concept of well-grounded formgiving, because it was more or
less "arbitrary theoretical fragments and findings that were
picked out as a central theme". Short after (51) he admits that
"above all the field of design methodology is unconceivable
without Ulm".
Buerdek gives the impression that Ulm was, for the main part,
the origin of a kind of malicious ideological disease that
spread over the world and from which mainly German design has
suffered until the end of the 20th century (51): "Through the
rigid Cartesian position, which they (the Ulm graduates) have
been inoculated with, they guaranteed that 'deviant tendencies'
were nipped in the bud or did not occur at all." The Ulm chapter
leaves the reader slightly puzzled. Why this strange bias? Is
there a hidden agenda?
"Functionalism" became the guiding paradigm in post WW2 Germany.
Braun and Dieter Rams serve as an example for this. And it was
hard (and required some fearless heroes, as we will see), to
overcome this legacy of Ulm. According to the author, all this
was based upon an apparent misunderstanding of Louis Sullivan's
concept of function, which suggests that each natural form is a
perfect and necessary expression of its essential nature / its
"function". And in analogy, each artificial form should be the
necessary expression of its essential nature - the designer
being the God-like mediator of these acts of creation.
Does this mean we should go back to Sullivan? Has not Jan Michl
(2001-2) in his excellent essay entitled "form follows what?"
demonstrated that Sullivan's notion of function, his idealistic
concept of nature, is probably the most basic misunderstanding
of all? One should ask: What is the function of a butterfly, or:
what is the function of a smartphone, which might be expressed
in their forms?
Several, mainly German, counter-positions to post-Ulm
functionalism in the 1980s and 1990s are presented.
Design und Globalisierung (71-224)
This chapter is considerably extended compared to the first
edition. The list of countries contains: Great Britain (the
"mother country" of design), Germany (FRG / GDR), Austria,
Switzerland, Italy, Spain (a nice error on p146: the REPSOL gas
station is presented as "RAPSOeL- Tankstellen", which is
rape-oil stations), France, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland (3/4
page), Norway (1/2 page), Sweden, Russia , USA, Canada, Brazil,
China, Hongkong, Japan, Korea, Singapur andTaiwan. The country
portraits are collections of sometimes useful facts and
references and sometimes rather useless (de-contextualized,
unconnected) snippets of data / names / product examples.
It is worth to mention the ongoing struggle against
"functionalism" in the German case. The author is criticizing
once again the narrow concept of function, which was prevailing
until the 1980s. The communicative dimension was denied, so
Buerdek. The product examples from famous German companies that
followed the "functionalist" paradigm (from AEG to Wilkhahn)
"speak for themselves", i.e. they DO communicate.
GDR design, which, according to Buerdek's own criteria, was
extremely "functionalist" (i.e. "grey, rectangular, stackable")
indeed, is treated much more benevolent (105): "Functionalism
was not understood as a category of style, but as a 'method of
work'" And he even acknowledges (107) that these products, "in
their rigid simplicity, were important under product-linguistic
aspects".
Anyway, to bring this to an end (101), it was "only at the turn
of the 21st century that Germany has released itself from the
long- lasting legacy of functionalism and is heading towards
pluralist design views."
Design und Methodologie (225-272)
Designing is introduced as a creative process, if not an act of
creation in the context of social, economic, technological,
cultural, ecological, restrictions. Knowing the world and
changing the world are inseparable in design. This requires
methods of practical thinking and methods of knowing
(Erkenntnismethoden). Classical design methodology, so Buerdek,
applies to the former (methods of practical thinking) and has
been dealt with sufficiently in the past. It is still important
for didactical reasons, for example regarding the training of
logic and systematic thinking.
The author then attributes a specific importance to the
humanities by stating (227): "The permanent crisis of meaning in
design reveals an increased need for theory and reflection, thus
philosophy." The chapter on classical philosophy, which is still
reduced in comparison to the first edition, introduces Sokrates
(3 sentences), Platon (4 sentences), Aristotle (3 sentences) and
Archimedes (4 sentences); the rest (2 pages) deals with Galilei,
Descartes (who exerted a bad influence on design until the
1970s), Leibniz, Kant, Hegel and Engels. Buerdek concludes
(which is a decision rather than a conclusion) that semiotics,
phenomenology and hermeneutics are the central fields of knowing
for design.
The chapter on Semiotics and Design (230-239), including brief
characterizations of Peirce, de Saussure, Mukarovsky, Morris,
Bense and Baudrillard is quite useful, and there is nothing to
criticize, except the assertion that the communicative functions
of design have been neglected in the past (which is neutralized
in a way by the added remark that it was just the HfG Ulm, which
has started in the 1950s to acquire semiotics for design!).
Thanks B.E.B. for the added chapter on semiotics and
communication!
The chapter on Phenomenology and Design (240-244) is new and
provides a nice entry to an important field of user-oriented
design research.
Hermeneutics and Design (244-251). Based upon short portraits of
Schleiermacher, Droysen, Dilthey, Bollnow and Gadamer and
introductions to the main concepts, hermeneutics is introduced
as a central field and universal tool for design theory. The
parallelism of language and (product) form and its
interpretation is asserted (246): "language, situated at the
center of philosophy, has to be taken as the core problem of the
humanities, and in consequence, this is true also for design."
Before this is worked out in more detail, Developments of Design
Methodology (251-272) are briefly presented. "Classical"
methodology and first generation systems research is introduced
through Rittel, Alexander, Jones, Archer, Maser, and others. In
the 1970s there was the well-known "paradigm-shift" towards a
greater plurality of approaches or even towards "no methods!",
according to Buerdek very much influenced by the works of Kuhn
(1967) and Feyerabend (1976). Alexander's "Pattern Language
(1977) is mentioned as the most important example.
The broad shift from the science- to the humanities paradigm in
design in the 1980s and 1990s lead to the development of various
new methods, such as: Mind Mapping (for non-linear structuring
of ideas), Scenario Technique (for prognosis and interaction
simulation), Mood Charts (for semantic visualizations),
Empirical methods (market research? a bit unclear), Target
groups by means of milieu studies, Product clinics, Usability,
Non-intentional design.
Design und Theorie (273-342)
Theory, in contrast to methodology, should provide a general
framework for design activities: what can, what should, what
wants design? Buerdek's hypothesis is that the aesthetic
frameworks were gradually replaced by technological / social /
economic / political concepts, and that finally a tendency
towards humanities-based theory- building is showing up since
the 1970s. Which is a (very specific) German view.
After the end of Ulm "functionalism" and after the radical
critique of consumerism in the late 1960s and early 1970s,
developments towards a "disciplinary design theory" are becoming
clearer: the paradigmatic core of this disciplinary theory says
(277) that designers are the experts for the form giving
(gestalterisch) and communicative aspects of products. The role
of designers as starry- eyed idealists (Weltverbesserer) is
criticized and rejected. I agree, but want to add that there is
still a wide and unexplored open range beyond the professional
profile of product-design as presented here.
In a tricky rhetorical swerve (279, 280) Buerdek aligns his
concept of disciplinary theory with the international efforts
since the 1990s to establish design as a discipline in a
university context. To say it friendly: quoting Alain Findeli in
this context seems to be a bit misleading.
And here we are, step by step, approaching an answer to the
above question: why this strange bias? A German antidote to the
"German disease" of "functionalist" design and methodology is to
be promoted, namely the "Theorie der Produktsprache" (theory of
product language):
The HfG Offenbach, so Buerdek, has been working for a
disciplinary theory, which is based upon the concept of
"sensorial + sensible function" (sinnlich + vernuenftig) since
the 1970s. The ambiguity and non-translatability of this term
lead to the adoption of the concept of "product language"
(Produktsprache) in the early 1980s. Thus the remarkable
programmatic statement is that a design theory is based upon the
humanities, and that it must enable the discipline to develop
its own body of knowledge: - The aim of a design theory is the
development of a universal disciplinary language. - The subject
matter relates to questions of form and context or form and
meaning, i.e. the communicative function. - The method will be
located in the humanities, because "neither the natural nor the
formal sciences are able to describe the essence of
communication in a design specific manner."
Finally, after a quite useful series of German and international
contributions, which support the semantic approach to product
design and thus "contribute to the disciplinary 'body of
knowledge'", we learn more about the "Theorie der
Produktsprache" (293-333): Charles Morris, Ernst Cassirer and
Susanne Langer are the main authorities in favour of the
approach, and the linguist Jan Mukarovsky (1970) provides the
model for the Offenbach typology of product functions:
- product functions
-practical functions (praktische Funktionen)
- product linguistic functions (produktsprachliche Funktionen)
- sign functions (zeichenhafte Funktionen)
- denotative functions (Anzeichenfunktionen)
- symbolic functions (Symbolfunktionen)
- formal aesthetic functions (syntax, formalaesthetische
Funktionen)
The approach is contextualized as an attempt to re-establish and
strengthen the importance of "Gestaltung" (formgiving), which,
according to Buerdek, has been neglected in favour of "attempts
to explain the world through design" in the past.
The 3 categories of formal aesthetic functions, denotative
functions and symbolic functions are then worked out in more
detail. Formal aesthetic functions are illustrated with various
brief references to gestalt- and perception theories (Ehrenfels,
Katz, Koehler, Wertheimer, Buehler, Koffka, Metzger, Arnheim)
and some good examples of formal principles. The necessary
complementarity of order and complexity is emphasized.
Denotative functions refer to ergonomics, usability and
interface design (Norman), whereas symbolic functions are more
ambiguous, but nonetheless essential for the evocation of
meanings in evolving patterns of lifestyles and product
differentiation and mechanisms of social inclusion / exclusion
(Barthes, Bourdieu).
Surprisingly (295), the simple but quite catchy model is dealt
with in a very critical and even slightly ironic manner here.
Buerdek admits the rigidity of the model, which is to be highly
appreciated! Nevertheless this turn leaves the reviewer a bit
puzzled, since it had been the almost "sacral" core of the
Offenbach approach until very recently.
The relation to product semantics in the US is reported in a
way, which avoids the political question: who was first?, which
was still obvious in the 1991 edition.
Design und Kontexte (343-432)
The closing chapter tries to reflect upon the inherent dynamics
of design in its changing contexts and presents a collection of
short feature essays + colourful examples:
- From corporate design to service design
- From design management to strategic design
- Architecture + design
- Utopia, visions, concepts and trends
- Micro electronics and design
- From the digital to the biological age
Anhang (433-483)
Very useful: Bibliography, quotes, pictures, index of persons
and keywords
Reviewer's conclusion
The author's focus on products as media of communication is
legitimate, of course. But there is no solid foundation of this
position, in the sense of a coherent theory. The only
rudimentary original model (the Offenbacher "Produktsprache") is
in parts denied in the present edition (295). So the book
remains a collection of supportive arguments from various
sources. The universal claim, as expressed in its title, is
misleading. The product language of the book fails. It does not
inform the user about its intention.
The title should be something like: "Product communication" if
it is aiming at a broad readership, or: "Towards a theory
communicative functions of products" for a more academic target
group.
To concretise the initial question: What is this design book
for? The answer remains ambiguous. The book tries to cover
several of the potential aims:
- it communicates a specific image of the profession (which is a
deliberate choice),
- it formulates an exclusive disciplinary theory (but in a
rather unsystematic manner),
- it provides an extensive archive (which remains eclectic and
biased),
- it describes design as a social and economic factor (in a
quite successful way),
- it presents design as a fancy lifestyle medium (by means of
many pretty pictures).
But in its unfocussed vagueness it fails to be really convincing
in any one of these possible characters. This is a pity.
-- Reviewed by Wolfgang Jonas
References
- Jonas, Wolfgang (1994) Design - System - Theorie.
Ueberlegungen zu einem systemtheoretischen Modell von
Designtheorie, Essen: Verlag Die Blaue Eule
- Michl, Jan (2001-2) "Form Follows What? The modernist notion
of function as a carte blanche," http://www.art-omma.org
________________________________________________________________
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DESIGN RESEARCH SOCIETY
The Design Research Society is the multi-disciplinary
international learned society for the design research community.
DRS was founded in 1967, and since then has established a
record of significant achievements in contributing to design
knowledge.
DRS has facilitated an international design research network in
40 countries comprising members who maintain contact through the
publications and activities of the Society. Members are drawn
from diverse backgrounds, not only from the traditional areas of
design, ranging from fine art to engineering, but also from
subjects like psychology and computer science.
Our interests include:
o recognising design as a creative act common to many
disciplines
o understanding research and its relationship with education
and practice
o advancing the theory and practice of design
We realise these by:
o encouraging the development of scholarship and knowledge in
design
o contributing to the development of doctoral education and
research training
o sharing knowledge across the boundaries of design disciplines
o facilitating networks to exchange and communicate ideas,
experience and research findings among members
o disseminating research findings
o promoting awareness of design research
o organising and sponsoring conferences, and publishing
proceedings
o encouraging communications between members internationally
o responding to consultative documents
o collaborating with other bodies
o lobbying on behalf of members' research interests
o recognising excellence in design research through awards
o sponsoring email discussion groups and a monthly emailed
newsletter
Membership of DRS provides:
o regular communications about research activities worldwide
o reduced subscription to a range of research journals
o reduced fees to DRS sponsored events
o representation of the design research community and members'
interests
o a means of identifying and contacting other members
o an opportunity to contribute to the international design
research community
For further details and to join online:
http://designresearchsociety.org
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SERVICES OF THE DESIGN RESEARCH SOCIETY
o Design Research News is the digital newsletter of the
Design Research Society. It communicates news about
research throughout the world. It is mailed automatically
at the beginning of each month and is free. You may
subscribe and unsubscribe at the following site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/design-research.html
o PHD-DESIGN is a discussion list open for unmoderated
discussion on all matters related to the PhD in design.
Topics include philosophies and theories of design, research
methods, curriculum development, and relations between
theory and practice. You may subscribe and unsubscribe at
the following site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/phd-design.html
o DRS is a discussion list open for unmoderated discussion
on all matters related to design research. You may
subscribe and unsubscribe at the following site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/drs.html
o Design Studies is the International Journal for Design
Research in Engineering, Architecture, Products and Systems,
which is published in co-operation with the Design Research
Society.
DRS members can subscribe to the journal at special rates.
http://www.elsevier.nl/locate/inca/30409/
o The DRS QCR - quarterly council report is sent via
email to full members of the Design Research Society. It
includes a selection of edited reports from international
Council members and Council Officers received from time to
time.
o Full information about the Design Research Society may
be found at:
http://www.designresearchsociety.org
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CONTRIBUTIONS
Information to the editor, Professor David Durling, Middlesex
University UK. <[log in to unmask]>
Book information and suggestions for reviews should be sent to
the book review editor Professor Ken Friedman, Norwegian School
of Management, Oslo, and Denmark's Design School.
<[log in to unmask]>
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