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Making Design Theory
A new approach to theory development for practice-driven research, proposing that theory is something made in and through design. Tendencies toward "academization" of traditionally practice-based fields have forced design to articulate itself as an academic discipline, in theoretical terms. In this book, Johan Redström offers a new approach to theory development in design research-one that is driven by practice, experimentation, and making. Redström does not theorize from the outside, but explores the idea that, just as design research engages in the making of many different kinds of things, theory might well be one of those things it is making.
Redström proposes that we consider theory not as stable and constant but as something unfolding--something acted as much as articulated, inherently fluid and transitional. Redström describes three ways in which theory, in particular formulating basic definitions, is made through design: the use of combinations of fluid terms to articulate issues; the definition of more complex concepts through practice; and combining sets of definitions made through design into "programs." These are the building blocks for creating conceptual structures to support design.
Design seems to thrive on the complexities arising from dichotomies: form and function, freedom and method, art and science. With his idea of transitional theory, Redström departs from the traditional academic imperative to pick a side--theory or practice, art or science. Doing so, he opens up something like a design space for theory development within design research.
Redström proposes that we consider theory not as stable and constant but as something unfolding--something acted as much as articulated, inherently fluid and transitional. Redström describes three ways in which theory, in particular formulating basic definitions, is made through design: the use of combinations of fluid terms to articulate issues; the definition of more complex concepts through practice; and combining sets of definitions made through design into "programs." These are the building blocks for creating conceptual structures to support design.
Design seems to thrive on the complexities arising from dichotomies: form and function, freedom and method, art and science. With his idea of transitional theory, Redström departs from the traditional academic imperative to pick a side--theory or practice, art or science. Doing so, he opens up something like a design space for theory development within design research.
- GenresDesign
192 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 2017
15 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Johan Redström
3 books5 followersJohan Redström joined UID as professor of design in 2012, and has been responsible for the PhD programme and research direction at UID. Between 2015 and 2018, he was Rector of UID.
Background
Coming into design was for me initially the result of a collision: on one side music, on the other philosophy. After studies in both areas (and some more), I ended up as a PhD student in philosophy but in parallel still experimenting with interactive and electronic music. But then I was recruited to a new research group working with applied research on art and technology (Göteborg University). This work, basically what we now call interaction design, for me turned out to be a perfect combination of projects together with industrial partners, design experimentation and practice-based research, and in 2001 I defended my PhD thesis called 'Designing Everyday Computational Things'. Since then I have primarily been doing and directing design research at the Interactive Institute, I've been adjunct professor at the School of Textiles at the University of Borås, Sweden, and associate research professor at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture, Denmark.
Background
Coming into design was for me initially the result of a collision: on one side music, on the other philosophy. After studies in both areas (and some more), I ended up as a PhD student in philosophy but in parallel still experimenting with interactive and electronic music. But then I was recruited to a new research group working with applied research on art and technology (Göteborg University). This work, basically what we now call interaction design, for me turned out to be a perfect combination of projects together with industrial partners, design experimentation and practice-based research, and in 2001 I defended my PhD thesis called 'Designing Everyday Computational Things'. Since then I have primarily been doing and directing design research at the Interactive Institute, I've been adjunct professor at the School of Textiles at the University of Borås, Sweden, and associate research professor at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture, Denmark.
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February 15, 2024
As the title suggests, Redström claims design produces theory through the making of artifacts and explores the implications of this viewpoint in thought provoking manner. The basic idea is not new in design research, but the book manages to bring a fresh perspective to the debate. Occasionally a slog but on the whole well worth it.
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