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.
Modelling Co-Evolution in Design Practice
Smulders, Frido E.; Dorst, Kees; Reymen, Isabelle M.
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):
335-346
Abstract:
Co-evolution is considered as a key characteristic of designing. Several authors have described design thinking processes as the co-evolution of design problem and design solution. Its theoretical grounding is, however, still in an early stage. In this paper, we aim to bring the concept further by studying a real life design meeting of an architect and a client. We developed a model of how co-evolution in a multi-party setting might work, consisting of the problems as perceived by the architect and client, the solutions as perceived by the architect and client, and relations between those. A co-evolution episode starts with introducing an underdeveloped design-solution pairing from the perspective of the initiating actor and ends with summing up the discussion and/or agreeing on the decisions taken. The developed model was used to look in detail at the utterances in three co-evolution episodes and then refined by adding a intermediate space concerning the "use" of the building and the application of boundary objects that mediates between problem and solution spaces in interactions between designer and client.
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