Hi Klaus,
In your previous mails you wrote:
... i suspect that knowledge conducive to design is not captured by
theory and that the term design theory might well be empty -- unless
proven otherwise.
I agree with you. You are right in both parts of your statement. And
I read it as a suggestion to look at the larger question. Before we
go into particular design theory issues, it is important to resolve
the basic philosophical problems with design theory. There are at
least two fundamental questions:
1. Is design theory possible? If the answer is Yes, then the next question is:
2. How is this theory possible?
The design research community has to come with some answers to these
questions. In the 1970's and early 1980's Gerald Nadler has
extensively written on these issues. He frames design theory from a
systems perspective. However, now his work seems too much on the
positivist side. Besides, I am aware that the questions that I wrote
above come from a strong objectivist perspective. I am open for
alternative approaches.
Kind regards,
Lubomir
Lubomir Popov, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Interior Design Program
School of Family and Consumer Sciences
309 Johnston Hall
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH 43403-0059
phone: (419) 372-7935
fax: (419) 372-7854
[log in to unmask]
|