Abstract
This paper arises from practice-based design research that I am conducting for my doctoral degree. In that research, I am investigating the acoustic and aesthetic properties of hand-tufted fibre products that may be used in interior spaces. After producing and testing material samples, I am now moving on to further questions about the experience of such materials in situations of practical use. Specifically, I am investigating how such materials may be used to enhance experience when they are placed in interior spaces. I want to understand the possible criteria for explaining how these materials help to create a unified experience. To me, this is a question of principles. What principles shape our understanding of wholeness in experience? To address this question, I will explore the idea of unity or wholeness of experience in three philosophers, seeking criteria that may be employed by the practicing designer when seeking a concrete solution to a problem of interior space. The three philosophers are Maurice Merleau- Ponty, Roland Barthes and John Dewey. Through this work I hope to demonstrate how practice-based research can lead to fruitful investigation of fundamental theoretical problems. The research results will be of significance foremost for architects, designers and design researchers.
Keywords
aesthetics, artefacts (for generating understanding of the design space and for “use” in a broad sense), case-based design, experience, interior space
Citation
Tooming, K. (2006) The Unity of Experience: Perspectives on the Products of Design, 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/85
The Unity of Experience: Perspectives on the Products of Design
This paper arises from practice-based design research that I am conducting for my doctoral degree. In that research, I am investigating the acoustic and aesthetic properties of hand-tufted fibre products that may be used in interior spaces. After producing and testing material samples, I am now moving on to further questions about the experience of such materials in situations of practical use. Specifically, I am investigating how such materials may be used to enhance experience when they are placed in interior spaces. I want to understand the possible criteria for explaining how these materials help to create a unified experience. To me, this is a question of principles. What principles shape our understanding of wholeness in experience? To address this question, I will explore the idea of unity or wholeness of experience in three philosophers, seeking criteria that may be employed by the practicing designer when seeking a concrete solution to a problem of interior space. The three philosophers are Maurice Merleau- Ponty, Roland Barthes and John Dewey. Through this work I hope to demonstrate how practice-based research can lead to fruitful investigation of fundamental theoretical problems. The research results will be of significance foremost for architects, designers and design researchers.