Design: Creation of Artifacts in Society [Kindle Edition]

Karl Ulrich (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Ulrich's book Design provides a unifying framework for understanding how artifacts are created in society. His audience is students of design, and their instructors, from engineering, industrial design, architecture, or business. The treatment includes both a discussion of elements of design process (e.g., problem definition and exploration) as well as topical issues (e.g., aesthetics in design).

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 2907 KB
• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania (October 2, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005S4EO1Y
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #588,045 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

Karl T. Ulrich is the Vice Dean of Innovation and the CIBC Professor of Entrepreneurship and e-Commerce at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He also holds an appointment as Professor of Mechanical Engineering. His research is focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, and product development. He is the winner of many teaching awards, including the Anvil Award, the Miller-Sherrerd Award, and the Excellence in Teaching Award at The Wharton School. At Penn, he co-founded the Weiss Tech House and the Integrated Product Design Program, two institutions fostering innovation in the university community. In addition to his academic work, Professor Ulrich has led dozens of innovation efforts for medical devices, tools, computer peripherals, food products, web-based services, and sporting goods. As a result of this work, he holds more than 20 patents. Professor Ulrich is a founder of Terrapass Inc. and Xootr LLC and he currently serves on the boards of several technology-based companies. Professor Ulrich holds bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from MIT.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Designs and Design Thinking - Varied Perspectives, October 31, 2011

By 

NITIN R JOGLEKAR (Newton, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Design: Creation of Artifacts in Society (Kindle Edition)

This book by Karl Ulrich provides a broad view of design thinking with many useful deep dives and illustrations. For instance, the chapter on problem solving describes different problem classes, ranging from incremental or tuning (e.g. the process of making plywood, where one merely adjusts parameters) problems to addressing major crises (e.g. Apollo 13). Ulrich makes the case for setting up deliberate processes to solve various problem classes, and then addresses why there might be resistance to structured processes. Other chapters delve into issues such as the functions of artifacts; users, experts and institutions; role of variety and aesthetics. In a colophon, Ulrich indicates that based on his belief in mobile devices as platforms of choice among potential readers, and driven by an obsession with design details, the entire book has been composed with self-created graphics and freeware. The graphics are elegant and thought provoking. Plus, the book is practically being given away for free.

I have used beta versions of some chapters with my PhD students to engender classroom discussions. A treat for design affectionados!