Customer Reviews

The Design Way: Intentional Change in an Unpredictable World : Foundations and Fundamentals of Design Competence

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an important book. The authors build upon a concept of design I learned from C.West Churchman. The show how the complex processes unfold. Mostly, they tell us there is a new way to think, when trying to make change.

I recommentd this book to decision makers, business and governement, local, national and international studetns and others concerned with change.

It is a book of our times.

I cannot agree with the two previous reviewers. Being a PhD student in design, I have troubles understanding the content and I am confused as to what disciplines or viewpoints are the authors taking (design management, product design, design philosophy, engineering design, self-help ???) when writing the book.

There are lots of instances where the authors are just dropping words without context (complexity, emergence, teleology, etc.) For example, in the second chapter, the authors define what is "true, real and ideal" without discussing the philosophical implications these terms introduced. The book appears to have a lots of unjustifiable claims. The references do not seem to be complete and many important design thinking/philosophy readings are missing. Another issue is that the book contains lots of models and diagrams (70+ figs) which cannot be justified (maybe just for visualization).

I don't think it is an introduction to the design way. It can serve as a general non-fiction reading but certainly fail to describe or explain the design way.

I totally recommend this book and Stolterman's other book - Thoughtful Interaction Design - one of the best books I have read as a (interaction) design student