> In other words, the world of design evolved from studying things, to studying humanity.
>
> The ever-evolving nature of the field has helped design to go beyond the definition of a trade and to be recognized as a rigorous area of study—from a technical profession, design evolved to become an academic discipline in its own right.
This is a good example of why most professional designers ignore the entirety of academic design discourse—and why those who don’t are so often frustrated and annoyed by it. So I’m a bit surprised to see it authored by someone who has one foot in each side of the divide.
The professional practice of design did not evolve into an academic discipline. They are two different things. A PhD in design doesn’t a designer make. Rather, designers are made in studio—that crucible core to virtually all professional design programs.
The difference in these pathways isn’t a a matter of level of advancement or evolution, but of purpose. The academic inquiry of/into design may have evolved from studying things to studying humanity, but the practice of design has never been about studying anything. Studying—the work of inquiry, the work of academic disciplines—is work aimed at acquiring knowledge for its own sake. Knowledge is vital, but the practice of design is not aimed at the acquisition of knowledge. It is a practice of shaping. It is aimed at creation—at stewarding the emergence of something new and valuable into the world.
I agree that the rigorous acquisition and use of evidence, knowledge, data, etc is important in the practice of design. And of course academic disciplines represent the apex of evidence-based institutions. But it does not follow that design has or should evolve into an academic discipline. For research and knowledge are but tools to the designer.
Of course, you could argue that the practice of design itself should be entirely a procedural, evidence-based affair. Though I think a few scholars tried that in the 60’s with the design methods movement, and it didn’t go over very well.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
PhD-Design mailing list <[log in to unmask]>
Discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design
Subscribe or Unsubscribe at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/phd-design
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|