Hi Heidi,
Thank you for your message. Yes, it is important to avoid being anthropocentric. It is also important to take an abstract complex systems perspective on design activity, where needed.
The four axioms I posted include both.
The term 'behaviour' is widely used as a technical term in ways that go beyond its common language use as applying specifically to humans.
Certainly in the design world that I'm part of, it refers all actions (and in some cases the consequences and implications of those actions) of anything real, imagined, abstract or virtual.
Some examples:
The behaviour of an ecosystem (This can refer to the abstract idea of an ecosystem (abstract designed output) or the physical entities that the abstract ecosystem describes)
Behaviour of screen elements as indicators of affordances (virtual and abstract designed outputs)
Behaviour of government policies (abstract designed outputs)
Behaviour of electro-mechanical components (physical designed outputs)
Behaviour of a mathematical function(abstract designed outputs)
Behaviour of neural image patterns as thoughts (subjectively imagined outputs)
Behaviour of appearance of a high fashion garment in terms of influence on culture and future fashion styles ...
Etc.
On feedback: the four defining axioms I provided include feedback as a matter of course in how they are written. If prediction of the behaviours of designed outputs or their outcomes requires using the abstract ideas of feedback (or complexity theory, or evolutionary theory or....), then these are obviously in the wording included as part of what is needed.
On inputs and outputs: all systems, however complex, can be regarded as having inputs - even if these are simply the influences from the environment in which the designing system (human or other) and the designed outputs emerge as a result of the design-creating activity.
I suggest it is better to restrict the term design specifically to outputs that are created as a result of a physical representation (i.e. a design as in a plan, drawing, or other set of specifications that describe how to implement the design exactly). Otherwise one can easily get into the situation of assuming 'all and everything' is 'design'. In that case, the term 'design' defines nothing.
Kind regards,
Terence
==
Dr Terence Love
MORS, MAISA, MISI, PMACM, AMIMechE
School of Design and Built Environment, Curtin University, Western Australia
CEO, Design Out Crime and CPTED Centre
PO Box 226, Quinns Rocks, Western Australia 6030
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]
+61 (0)4 3497 5848
ORCID 0000-0002-2436-7566
==
-----Original Message-----
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Heidi Overhill
Sent: Friday, 2 November 2018 3:11 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: mapping analytical methods for design research
Dear Terence,
Reducing the impact of design to "behaviour" is ultra-anthropocentric. What about design's impact on the natural world? Recent writing on evolution notes that animals inherit not just genes, but also the modifications to the environment made by earlier generations -- consider the beaver's dam. Since design modifies both the environment and the human actor in it, this makes it an agent of self-evolution (in a Lamarckian sense). Because such evolution impacts everything from biological life to cognitive tools, it sets a field of enquiry for design that is far broader than that of mere "behaviour."
On that point, consider also the role of feedback and simultaneity in the experience of reality, and behavioural reactions to it. It is unrealistic to try to abstract the mutuality of that emergent experience into sequential "inputs" and "outputs."
Best wishes,Heidi
From: Terence Love <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, November 1, 2018 5:50 AM
Subject: Re: mapping analytical methods for design research
Dear Danielle,
Following on from Ali's post, it might be useful and simplifying to first identify the purposes of design research.
This gives a boundary on any 'analytical methods map for design research'.
The range of purposes of design research are limited.
I suggest all the purposes of design research are included in the following four items:
1. To improve the prediction of behaviour of designed outputs 2. To improve the prediction of the behaviour of outcomes that result from designed outputs 3. To identify how humans and machines create designed outputs on the basis of their inputs 4. To reduce the number of design solutions and problems that are regarded as 'wicked' and 'hyper-wicked'
The above place clear bounds on any map of analytic methods of use in design research.
Best regards,
Terence
==
Dr Terence Love,
School of Design and Built Environment, Curtin University, Western Australia CEO, Design Out Crime and CPTED Centre PO Box 226, Quinns Rocks, Western Australia 6030 [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask]
+61 (0)4 3497 5848
ORCID 0000-0002-2436-7566
==
-----Original Message-----
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Danielle Wilde
Sent: Wednesday, 31 October 2018 11:51 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: mapping analytical methods for design research
Dear all,
again, thank you for messages on and off list. Following some rousing cheers I’ve decided to go ahead and build on what’s out there, which means I will come back to individuals and the list to solicit further input. In the meantime, if anyone else would like to send through suggestions, please keep them coming.
best regards,
Danielle
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