Abstract
This paper starts by exploring some answers to questions about the causes and processes of change. These answers range from the ideas of Vitruvius to modern evolutionary accounts using the concept of memes as replicators. The paper then looks at some evidence gathered by the author and his post graduate students over a period of 40 years in studies of technological innovation, design management etc. There are two main conclusions - 1. We need to be much more modest in our beliefs that intentionality, rationality, reason, scientific understanding and so on can lead to better things. 2. We need more wonder when faced with the evidence that new things emerge by a memetic Darwinian process of change.
Keywords
design & innovation processes, design evolution & design processes, theory of innovation, history of design, memetics
Citation
Langrish, J. (2006) The Wonder of Change: Where do new things come from and how do they get here?, in Friedman, K., Love, T., Côrte-Real, E. and Rust, C. (eds.), Wonderground - DRS International Conference 2006, 1-4 November, Lisbon, Portugal. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2006/researchpapers/102
The Wonder of Change: Where do new things come from and how do they get here?
This paper starts by exploring some answers to questions about the causes and processes of change. These answers range from the ideas of Vitruvius to modern evolutionary accounts using the concept of memes as replicators. The paper then looks at some evidence gathered by the author and his post graduate students over a period of 40 years in studies of technological innovation, design management etc. There are two main conclusions - 1. We need to be much more modest in our beliefs that intentionality, rationality, reason, scientific understanding and so on can lead to better things. 2. We need more wonder when faced with the evidence that new things emerge by a memetic Darwinian process of change.