Dear Karel,

Thank you  for your detailed reply.  I feel what you have written aligns
with what I suggested for the Axiom 1 but in different words. You might see
things differently?

Your  first paragraph seems to be referring to 'information gathering' of
different kinds (finding a shape/structure,  'probing' which seems it could
be information gathering or perhaps making up new stuff, comparing  with
requirements  - resulting in new information)? This is of the sort of
'gathering' that Klaus seems to me to be referring to.

The second paragraph also seems to be mostly about information gathering
(search for format, reconsidering or modifying requirements (at the end you
have new information),  identifying opportunities for new variations)  but
perhaps using some subconscious ways of doing them.

The third paragraph also appears to be about information gathering
(comparing visual to requirements (which results in new information),
frisking for unexpected options (new information again)). 

Later you say that you are looking for some sort of structure to present
information . That seems very much like information gathering - the
information being the description of the right 'sort of structure'. Later
still is an implication that you are looking for the most promising options
(more information again) .

Especially interesting is your comment that you use drawing to remember what
you thought (I do this also as I guess many others do). In my view of the
world, the activity  before (that results in the things worth remembering)
may be either spontaneous or from a 'method'. If it's a design method, I'm
pretty sure it will be a way of information gathering (or information
processing which in turn results in information gathering). Your  final two
sentences seem to be about using drawings for presentation. This seems to be
in a different realm from designing?

I welcoem your thoughts.

Best wishes,
Terence




-----Original Message-----
From: Karel van der Waarde [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Wednesday, 24 September 2008 9:15 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc: [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: Design as Research? Axioms?

Dear Terry,

Thanks for your questions. [Straight back to the core of design.]

A few first reactions from my own 'information design practice'. [It is
likely to be different for other design areas.]

>Terry's first question:
>Would you make a distinction between being creative and using a method?
When I'm trying to find some sort of shape or structure to present
information, I'm just visually probing the most promising options. 
These options are continuously compared with all sorts of requirements
(client, production, available time, user reactions, ...).

It is a fairly methodical search for a suitable format. [It is precisely
aimed at an nebulous goal]. During this activity, some requirements or some
parts of information might be reconsidered or modified. This will open
opportunities for other variations. That could be classified as 'creative'
although I would not use that descriptor.

It's 'methodical' because it is continously comparing the visual to the
requirements, but it is 'creative' because it actively frisks for unexpected
options through the re-evaluation of requirements and information contents.

So, during the process, the distinction between 'creative' and 'using a
method' does not seem to exist. An essential part of the method is to look
for unexpected options. Concluding: the answer for my practice is no.

>For example, if you were drawing creatively would you see that as 
>different from using a specific drawing method?
Personally, I don't think so. The aim is to develop 'some sort of shape or
structure to present information'. The only way to do that is to make the
most promising options visible. I don't seem to select an 'appropriate
drawing method', but use anything that is available within my fairly poor
drawing abilities. [The results are usually visually not that interesting
either: as long as I can use them to remember what I thought, and can make a
next step, I'm happy. These drawings are only intended to visualize and
store some thoughts. I use other drawing methods for other puposes: to
present, to convince, to show overviews ... ]

Again, this might be very different for other people, or other design areas.

Kind regards,
Karel.
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