The understanding of Design...

In order to have a strong foundation (I hope) thoughts and questions have been reading to understand what design is and what it means to be involved in interaction design, this will be an on going process but have a collected an initial few interpretations of what design is and read through several points which I can relate to and at this point in time agree with.

Some of the thoughts I have I have come across which I particularly liked.

“design… deserves attention not only as a professional practice but as a subject of social, cultural, and philosophic investigation.”
Richard Buchanan and Victor Margolin.

“Designers solve problems for clients. Artists solve problems for humanity. The latter is the greatest problem.”
John Maeda.

“Design addresses itself to the need.” - And is this why bad design just lets the needs of users Charles Eames. down ?


This has also lead to questioning of understanding design, and have come across several interpretations as expected. Though have been most intrigued by a designer called Charles Eames and his thoughts, the following is extracts from an interview with the designer.

Q -What is your definition of design ?
A - A arranging elements in such a way as to best accomplish a particular purpose

Q -Is design an expression of art form?
A -The design is an expression of the purpose. It may (if it is good enough) later be judged as art

Q - What are the boundaries of of design ?
A - What are the boundaries of the problems ?

Q - Does the creation of a design admit constraints ?
A - Design depends largely on constraints.

Q - What constraints ?
A - The sum of all constraints. Here is one of the of the few effective keys to the design
problem - the ability of the designer to recognise as many of the constraints as possible -
his willingness and enthusiasm for working within these constraints - the constraints of
price, of size of strength, balance, of surface, of time etc.;each problem has its own
peculiar list.

Q - does design obey laws ?
A - Aren't constraints enough ?


I am pretty sure that there should be no hard and fast definition as design in itself is a complex and unique problem in each context to which it is applied and always open to interpretation

but can also understand how design should be about form and function running in parallel
and not form following function, which is why I like the following.

"Form follows function – that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union.”
Frank Lloyd Wright.


Understanding from chapter 10 of Designing interactions Bill Moggridge