Abstract
Most definitions of research refer to the concept of adding to, or developing, the knowledge of a domain. Activities and outcomes are recognised as research based on assumptions about what constitutes knowledge. The relationship of design to the production of knowledge can be problematic if we adopt what Heidegger referred to as a metaphysical view of the world. From a metaphysical point of view the scientist is a finder, a discoverer, while the designer is primarily a maker. The scientist uncovers truths about the world that complement existing representations of reality. The maker, on the other hand, applies knowledge and intuition to develop configurations in the physical world that solve a problem or that have some other relevance in a social context. In this paper I equate knowledge with assertions of truth. I outline a number of ways in which design or design related activity may be considered to contribute to knowledge in the domain. In particular I explore ways in which designers may: • develop artefacts that allow us to see the world in significant new ways; • develop artefacts that bring to the fore previously implicit or unknown aspects of a situation; • introduce configurations of frameworks and judgements that become a locus for development of design domains; and, • develop ways of framing design situations that constitute a significant new approach to the development of design outcomes. I propose that researchers must engage in developing and foregrounding such contributions if they are to play an effective role in the creation of technological citizenship (Delanty 2001, p.158).
Citation
McLaughlin, S. (2004) New Knowledge in Design: A Hermeneutic Perspective on Design Activity and the Production of Knowledge., in Redmond, J., Durling, D. and de Bono, A (eds.), Futureground - DRS International Conference 2004, 17-21 November, Melbourne, Australia. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2004/researchpapers/195
New Knowledge in Design: A Hermeneutic Perspective on Design Activity and the Production of Knowledge.
Most definitions of research refer to the concept of adding to, or developing, the knowledge of a domain. Activities and outcomes are recognised as research based on assumptions about what constitutes knowledge. The relationship of design to the production of knowledge can be problematic if we adopt what Heidegger referred to as a metaphysical view of the world. From a metaphysical point of view the scientist is a finder, a discoverer, while the designer is primarily a maker. The scientist uncovers truths about the world that complement existing representations of reality. The maker, on the other hand, applies knowledge and intuition to develop configurations in the physical world that solve a problem or that have some other relevance in a social context. In this paper I equate knowledge with assertions of truth. I outline a number of ways in which design or design related activity may be considered to contribute to knowledge in the domain. In particular I explore ways in which designers may: • develop artefacts that allow us to see the world in significant new ways; • develop artefacts that bring to the fore previously implicit or unknown aspects of a situation; • introduce configurations of frameworks and judgements that become a locus for development of design domains; and, • develop ways of framing design situations that constitute a significant new approach to the development of design outcomes. I propose that researchers must engage in developing and foregrounding such contributions if they are to play an effective role in the creation of technological citizenship (Delanty 2001, p.158).