Thanks Ken.
Yes, I know and appreciate the Fuller schema. Unfortunately, the large scale
conception isn't what is commonly equated with the meaning of Big-D design
in my professional world where the term is usually used pejoratively.
It carries the meaning of imposing a concept from on high rather than
immersing oneself deeply and knowledgably in a problematic situation,
generating and examining pregnant possibilities, and drawing forth the ideas
and patterns that connect. That's what I'm referring to with the "hard work
of integrative and comprehensive development," integrative ideas not
production development. The belief that intuition and invention is due to
celestial intervention is probably a hangover from our Beaux Arts past and
seat of the pants habits of designing.
Maybe that's part of what's behind some of David's concern. In any case, I
appreciated your generous responses about his abilities and professional
work.
Warm wishes,
Jerry
On 12/16/12 1:44 PM, "Ken Friedman" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear Jerry,
>
> Thanks for a good post. I¹d like to suggest one nuance on a key issue.
>
> You wrote, ³Re: Big-D design. My experience has been largely negative. I¹ve
> worked with too many studio instructors who skip over the hard work of
> integrative and comprehensive development.²
>
> As I see it, the term ³Big-D Design² refers to the large-scale conception and
> understanding of design process as Herbert Simon and Buckminster Fuller
> described it. Fulfilling this vision does not mean skipping over integrative
> and comprehensive development it requires it.
>
> What makes the D ³big² in ³Big-D Design² is a large conception of what design
> does in an age where most of the world around us is affected by the
> technological interventions we design. Many of the results are adverse for
> example, catastrophic climate change. A concept of design that allows us to
> better understand our actions as designers is vital.
>
> In this sense, design involves far more than a focus on a big idea. A big idea
> is the fuzzy front end of the design process. Fuller (1969: 319) describes the
> full process of design in this model:
>
> First, a subjective process of search and research:
>
> teleology -- > intuition -- > conception -- >
> apprehension -- > comprehension -- >
> experiment -- > feedback -- >
>
> Then generalization and objective development leading to practice:
>
> prototyping #1 -- > prototyping #2 -- > prototyping #3 -- >
> production design -- > production modification -- > tooling -- >
> production -- > distribution -- >
> installation -- > maintenance -- > service -- >
> reinstallation -- > replacement -- >
> removal -- > scrapping -- > recirculation
>
> Getting a big idea involves the first two steps in a long process. Integrative
> and comprehensive development bring ideas to life.
>
> Yours,
>
> Ken
>
> Professor Ken Friedman, PhD, DSc (hc), FDRS | University Distinguished
> Professor | Swinburne University of Technology | Melbourne, Australia |
> [log in to unmask] |Phone +61 3 9214 6102 |
> http://www.swinburne.edu.au/design
>
> --
>
> Reference
>
> Fuller, Buckminster. 1969. Utopia or oblivion: the prospects for humanity. New
> York: Bantam Books.
>
>
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--
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