Dear Michael,
Thanks for your post of 14th November. To better understand the 'why'
of the transition in design practice as we more fully engage with the
Information(Knowledge) Age, I use the General Evolution Theory of Ervin
Laszlo(Laszlo, E.(1996) General Evolution Theory. Cresskill, NJ:
Hampton). This has its origins in the 20th century 'sciences of
complexity' rather than the reductionist views of traditional science.
It was developed to better understand the behaviour of whole complex
adaptive systems rather than their elemental parts and, as such,
provides helpful insights into the broader sociocultural role of design.
Laszlo applies his theory at a high level of abstraction to physical,
biological, social and cognitive dynamic systems. It is thus proposed
as a 'unifying' theory and accommodates more specific theories like that
of Darwin for biological systems. I am using the general principles of
Laszlo's work to better understand the many complex adaptive systems
which increasingly define design practice and its broader sociocultural
context.
More specifically, I am using Laszlo's thinking both to interpret the
transitions in design education during the Industrial Age and to predict
those most likely as we embrace the Information Age. It is, by nature,
an inexact science - to say the least - but it does provide a
theoretical basis for approaching sociocultural change proactively
rather than reactively. This latter point has been well understood by
parts of the systems community, who view design as a sociocultural
evolutionary guidance system - an interpretation with truly profound
implications. It moves us, for example, beyond Dick Buchanan's fourth
order of design to a fifth - evolutionary systems design.
I think you answer your own query about 'design practice', when you
observe that it is becoming more participatory!
Kindest,
John
--
[log in to unmask]@JISCMAIL.AC.UK
John A. Broadbent,
Faculty of Design, Architecture & Building,
University of Technology, Sydney,
PO Box 123
Broadway, New South Wales
Australia 2007.
Tel: (61) 2 9514 8986
Fax: (61) 2 9514 8787
Email: [log in to unmask]
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