Dear Chris
Thanks for your appreciation...I need it! I would like to take up your challenge knowing that mine is not an unfamiliar proposal
desperately needing promotion.
As you mentioned (in relation to designing cars), design is (mostly) redesign, sometimes toward something better, often toward small
incremental differences (not necessarily better). The original design is 'fundamental'. In more philosophical terms, the original
design is 'essential' and the subsequent redesigns are 'accidental'. To redesign an automobile, however interesting and challenging
the changes are, the changes are not 'substantial' (not a change in 'substance', only in 'form').
Something that replaces the cars, for example, however, will be quite a fundamental change. This will require designers/design
researchers taking on the task of interpreting/abstracting the essential meanings of cars to conceive and realize 'products' that
suit particular local situations and circumstances and develop them with various stakeholders. I think, this will be a designerly
approach.
Central to this approach is the acceptance/assumption that fundamental/basic research does not necessarily entail generalizablity -
applicable to all situations. Secondly, it is future-oriented, drawing upon the cultivated talents of designers to make concrete
proposals. Thirdly, it is assumed that what is more important to design/design research is not knowing what is the same/general but
what is different/particular. Subsequently, it is assumed that design research will be seriously concerned with 'culture',
'communication', and 'language' and will take us to these fields of knowledge.
Rosan
"Rust, Chris" wrote:
> Never mind. My big challenge is: can the members of this discussion propose a valid research approach that designers can use to
> advance our understanding of ANY of the problems raised in this discussion so far: From the assertions that I have observed these
> problems or ideas might include:
>
> Designers are frustrated by an unimaginative industry
> Manufacturers are pandering to consumers to the detriment of the environment
> Consumers are self-indulgently compensating for a lack of fulfilment in other aspects of their lives
> Different designs might make be more sustainable (be very careful with this one)
>
> And one raised recently by that leading environmentalist, George W. Bush:
> "We are addicted to petroleum"
>
> So let's stop chattering and see if we are able to define any useful research that designers (as opposed to economists,
> ecologists, technologists, political scientists etc etc) can do, preferably using their talent for synthesising as a tool in the
> research.
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