Abstract

Design Puzzles open up a new field of visual and manual learning material for research in design morphology. The way Design Puzzles are instrumental as educational tools involves using them as research systems (frame works) in which spatial / visual problems are posed, requiring formulations of hypothesis as strategies for developing solution paths. The concept can be applied to a wide range of products, (physical and digital), for different ages (K-12 through University) and contexts (open ended play and/or guided classroom situations). Problem identification and approach skills as well as creative thinking strategies are brought into play as spatial / visual challenges are encountered in systematic and organized contexts, requiring designing responses. There is a clear distinction made here between designing a response and solving a problem. The underlying idea behind Design Puzzles is to associate the intrinsic rigor of geometry with aesthetic sensitivity towards form within an organized system allowing variables to be manipulated within certain parameters. This association strengthens informed intuition skills while simultaneously developing analytical hypothetical deductive approaches. Through this integrated inquiry process, design thinking strategies are clearly identified and can be subsequently developed as specific design research skills and aptitudes.

Keywords

design research, learning, strategy, morphology

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Share

COinS
 
Sep 10th, 9:00 AM

Design Puzzles as a learning platform for morphology design research

Design Puzzles open up a new field of visual and manual learning material for research in design morphology. The way Design Puzzles are instrumental as educational tools involves using them as research systems (frame works) in which spatial / visual problems are posed, requiring formulations of hypothesis as strategies for developing solution paths. The concept can be applied to a wide range of products, (physical and digital), for different ages (K-12 through University) and contexts (open ended play and/or guided classroom situations). Problem identification and approach skills as well as creative thinking strategies are brought into play as spatial / visual challenges are encountered in systematic and organized contexts, requiring designing responses. There is a clear distinction made here between designing a response and solving a problem. The underlying idea behind Design Puzzles is to associate the intrinsic rigor of geometry with aesthetic sensitivity towards form within an organized system allowing variables to be manipulated within certain parameters. This association strengthens informed intuition skills while simultaneously developing analytical hypothetical deductive approaches. Through this integrated inquiry process, design thinking strategies are clearly identified and can be subsequently developed as specific design research skills and aptitudes.

 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.