Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
The Flexible Meaning of Function in Engineering
Vermaas, Pieter E.
Type:
Year:
2009
Editor:
Norell Bergendahl, M.; Grimheden, M.; Leifer, L.; Skogstad, P.; Lindemann, U.
Author:
Series:
ICED
Section:
Design Theory and Research Methodology
Page(s):
113-124
Abstract:
In this paper I explain the co-existence of different approaches towards understanding functions. First I argue that full descriptions of technical devices contain five key concepts: structure, behavior, function, action, and goal. Then I show that such full descriptions can be simplified. Physicochemical descriptions of devices that link structure, behavior, and functions, are cloaking references to actions and goals. Intentional descriptions that link goals, actions, and functions, cloak behavior and structure. Descriptions that directly link goals of users to the structure of devices, by-pass references to actions and/or behavior. Third I argue that these simplifications affect the meaning of the concept of function. Functions may refer to desired behavior of devices, to desired effects, or to goals of agents. Function thus has a flexible meaning in engineering that depends on the way full descriptions of devices are simplified. Finally I show with three examples that approaches towards understanding functions advance different simplifications. Hence, they co-exist because they represent simplifications of full descriptions of devices that are all valuable to engineering.
Keywords:
