Dear Klaus,
Thanks for your reply.
What I was trying to ask, perhaps not clearly enough, was exactly what YOU
mean by and how you specifically bound the concept of a 'design theory'.
For example, do you define a design theory as:
. A theory about design process bounded by formal descriptions of
individual activities and their relationships?
. A theory about the internal human subjective processes by which
an individual's affective cognition processes generate and internally test
the viability of designs bounded by it being an internal process and not
including for example memory supplementations such as drawings and sketches?
. A theory about design activity seen as specific communications
between individuals that draws a boundary between communicaitons specific to
the design and other communicaitons that occur at the same time and between
the same individuals yet are outside the scope of the design theory?
. A theory about design seen as socially constructed new knowledge
and which the boundaries are specific rules tightly defining which
activities, individuals, communications and elements of knowledge are
included within the design theory and which are not?
. Etc
Your preferred definition of 'design theory' may be some combination of any
of the above or somethings else.
The important thing I want to know is exactly how you specify testable
boundaries that define very tightly those elements that are within your
concept of design theory, and those that are excluded.
That is I'm trying to avoid being involved in useless discussion based on
broad brush meaningless definitions like 'a design theory is a theory about
innovation' or 'a design theory is a theory about communicaiotn in design
activity'.
Best wishes,
Terry
--
Dr Terence Love
PhD (UWA), B.A. (Hons) Engin, PGCE. FDRS, AMIMechE, MISI
Director,
Love Services Pty Ltd
PO Box 226, Quinns Rocks Western Australia 6030
Tel: +61 (0)4 3497 5848
Fax:+61 (0)8 9305 7629
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]
--
From: Klaus Krippendorff [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, 8 December 2014 1:24 AM
To: [log in to unmask]; 'PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD
studies and related research in Design'
Subject: RE: design theory
terry,
i know what a theory is. in a nutshell:
. it needs to explain a set of specific observable phenomena
. it is concerned with phenomena that can be observed repeatedly
. it needs to be general, i.e., one should be able to extrapolate it
to phenomena not yet observed -- able to predict, to explain phenomena in
advance of observing them
. it is stated from the position of an outside observer,
etymologically a spectator
. it needs to be inter-subjectively falsifiable, i.e., by agreement
among multiple observers on available evidence, which also means that a
theory must be understandable by observers
i am sure there are more conditions.
to me design means introducing innovations which, by definition, may rely on
existing phenomena (technology, materials, and practices) but proposes
something fundamentally new, something that could not grow on trees, so to
speak. there are all kinds of teachable practices that can lead to
innovations. but they are actionable strategies, not theories constructed to
explain observations.
you claim to know mathematical models of complex system (i know some as
well) that could explain design activities (the emergence of novel
technologies and practices, including revolutions).
please give us a hint of how they look like and what they entail beyond
merely claiming that you are in possession of them.
klaus
-----Original Message-----
From: Terence Love [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2014 2:52 AM
To: Klaus Krippendorff; 'PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD
studies and related research in Design'
Subject: RE: design theory
Hi Klaus,
Thanks for your message. Not a rhetorical game. I'm cautious and exact about
using the term 'design theory' and wanted to know your way of using the term
so I could align my answer to your thinking.
I'll answer without locating in design theory.
Best regards,
Terry
-----Original Message-----
From: <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
[log in to unmask]
[ <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Klaus Krippendorff
Sent: Sunday, 7 December 2014 3:08 PM
To: <mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]; 'PhD-Design - This list
is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design'
Subject: RE: design theory
terry,
i asked you to give me an example of a design theory which you talk of as
having to be predictive.
instead of stating one (or at least a few propositions of one), or stating
what it is to predict, you refer to "predictive modelling methods" in the
abstract and talk of "responsibilities and creative design activity that
comes with using better predictive methods."
This is a far cry from giving me at least a hint of an answer to what i had
hoped you learn of how a design theory looks like. i just don't know what it
should predict: responsibility? creative actions? how to solve problems?
change the world?
then you ask me to "detailed for (you) what (i) regard as a design theory,
and what are the characteristics of the boundaries of the concept of 'design
theory' (in general) that differentiate design theories from other forms
of theories"
i happen not to talk of design theory, i do not have any. i have insights in
what it means to design, what is important and what is less so, but i would
not frame these experiences in terms of design theory and would not have
asked you if i knew how you conceptualize design theory.
in effect, you now asked me to answer the question i posed to you. i was not
playing rhetorical games.
klaus
----Original Message-----
From: Terence Love [ <mailto:[log in to unmask]> mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2014 12:57 AM
To: Klaus Krippendorff; 'PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD
studies and related research in Design'
Subject: RE: design theory
Hi Klaus,
You asked me to ' give us an example of a predictive "design theory"'
I've described my response to this in detail at other times. In essence, I
refer to predictive modelling methods for complex socio-technical design
situations and their use in design process, and the changes in roles,
responsibilities and creative design activity that comes with using better
predictive methods.
You seem to be somehow collating this into a 'predictive design theory', but
that's not how I see it.
Rather, implicit in it is the idea that the current way of thinking about
design theories is limiting, and part of the problem.
For the remainder of today, I need to travel and work. I'll reply more fully
tomorrow.
In the meantime, it would help if you detailed for me what you regard as a
design theory, and what are the characteristics of the boundaries of the
concept of 'design theory' (in general) that differentiate design theories
from other forms of theories.
Best wishes,
Terry
---
Dr Terence Love
PhD(UWA), BA(Hons) Engin. PGCEd, FDRS, AMIMechE, MISI Director, Love
Services Pty Ltd PO Box 226, Quinns Rocks Western Australia 6030
Tel: +61 (0)4 3497 5848
Fax:+61 (0)8 9305 7629
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]
--
-----Original Message-----
From: <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
[log in to unmask]
[ <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Klaus Krippendorff
Sent: Sunday, 7 December 2014 12:07 PM
To: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related
research in Design
Subject: design theory
terry,
i've read your response to my question to you to give us an example of a
predictive "design theory" which you and ken are advocating. i've read it on
my cell phone and wanted to answer on my computer but can't find it on
either device.
part of your message complains of feeling attacked. this is far from my
intention. i was aware that i posed a challenging question whose answer
would clarify what you had in mind regarding design. i had asked you because
i have the feeling you are subscribing to a notion of theory taken literally
from the natural sciences in which predictions is the currency of
publishable success. when you refer to theories you have a tendency to talk
about generalities, including what constituted evidence, etc. i was more
interested in design
as a communication scholar i am dealing with theories of human communication
all the time, with conceptions of dialogue, with the relationship between
speech acts and what they accomplish, with models of influence, with issues
of power, submission, and liberation. such theories then to be
propositional, occasionally based on mathematical formulations, for example,
limits on communication in information theoretical terms. although i have
proposed some theoretical propositions on design, but they do not reach the
requirement of the kind of predictive specificity you seem to impose.
so, i just want to read an example of a valid design theory - not assertions
of requirements for one, such as that they should be evidence based,
predictive, general, useful for designers, etc. i think this simple question
deserves an answer from a vocal proponent of design theory.
klaus
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