Dear Kari and all
Already in mid 70s, Michel Jullien et al.* had conceptualized as follows,
for designing purpose, your "dynamics of materially-mediated relationships
between humans and world": artefact concepts (should systematically) stem
out of the complex dynamics between projected "produit-usagers-milieu". The
complexity effect arising both through the reciprocal interaction in pairs
(product-users, users-milieu, milieu-product), and through the concurrent
triangular interaction of the three pairs. I called "design nexus" the
conceptual spot of all those multiple interactions, giving birth to 'well
designed', i.e. 'good', i.e. safe, efficient and economical (in the
broadest sense) artefacts when fully taken into consideration.
Sure, any one of the three elements of the dynamics above can be
historically reviewed separately. Respective other academic disciplines,
Art&Design History included, dwell on that. But to me, the proper expertise
in artefact conception precisely lies in the capacity to deal with the
complex nexus that you call a "dynamics of materially-mediated
relationships between humans and the word" (by the way, was this a
citation? from which source?)
And in my view, the nexus dynamics of any artefact, be it a 'chair' (either
a particular chair or, in general, any material means to support human body
in sited position) or ...a spacecraft, can be historically dealt with under
different language formats, extent and depth, all equally valid: plain
prose narrative, illustrative graphics, mechanical graphics, mathematical
equations and models (cliodynamics), prototypical illustrations and
simulations, renderings of poetical, philosophical, hard science,
political, juridical nature, etc., etc. As you so rightly say, it all
depends on the data available and the quality of these; but also, may I
add, on the inclination and aptitude (in place and time, re Don's case) of
the 'historian', as well and mostly, on the communication purpose of the
'story'.
Greetings to all !
Francois
Montreal
* JULLIEN, Michel: Le Domaine de l’usage : Relations Objets/Usagers/Milieu,
IF (Industrialisation Forum), Vol. 9, (1978), No. 2-3 ; Cahier de l’Isuc
No. 1.
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