Abstract
This paper reviews the assumption of design competence passing over a threshold and eventually being equalized to come into being in every soul who gets exposed to education offered by design institutions. Firstly, two distinct ways of viewing design as areas of daily activities and expertise are discussed. Institutions’ role in design competence is argued within the context of modern industrial view. Post-positivist paradigm, philosophy of design and phenomenology are explored to lighten the methodology used in this paper. Expertise both in a general way and in design is explained. Finally to put back the skills that are diminished by the assumption stated above, a model of design skills is suggested. Primary skills like systematic and conceptual thinking which seem to occur in abstract mental channels are discussed as design thinking abilities; while secondary skills like exposing, constructing and designating which seem to occur in concrete physical channels are discussed as communicational abilities.
Keywords
design competence; design expertise; design skills; philosophy of design; phenomenology
Citation
Ulusan, U. (2014) Uncovering Design Competence: An Overview and a Model of Design Skills, in Lim, Y., Niedderer, K., Redström, J., Stolterman, E. and Valtonen, A. (eds.), Design's Big Debates - DRS International Conference 2014, 16-19 June, Umeå, Sweden. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2014/researchpapers/68
Uncovering Design Competence: An Overview and a Model of Design Skills
This paper reviews the assumption of design competence passing over a threshold and eventually being equalized to come into being in every soul who gets exposed to education offered by design institutions. Firstly, two distinct ways of viewing design as areas of daily activities and expertise are discussed. Institutions’ role in design competence is argued within the context of modern industrial view. Post-positivist paradigm, philosophy of design and phenomenology are explored to lighten the methodology used in this paper. Expertise both in a general way and in design is explained. Finally to put back the skills that are diminished by the assumption stated above, a model of design skills is suggested. Primary skills like systematic and conceptual thinking which seem to occur in abstract mental channels are discussed as design thinking abilities; while secondary skills like exposing, constructing and designating which seem to occur in concrete physical channels are discussed as communicational abilities.