The Nature & Aesthetics of Design [Paperback]

David Pye (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1995

In this brilliant exposition of the many facets of good design, David Pye investigates the scientific nature of function and its tenuous relationship to form. He explores the priority of economy, physical components, and manufacturing technique; and he clarifies the relative utilitarian and aesthetic roles of design. It establishes a basic theory of design where none existed before. Written in a lucid style and in jargon-free language, it is a healthy correction to critiques of the past century. This is a penetrating, provocative and utterly stimulating book that everyone should read—for design is everywhere.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Pye was an internationally known architect, industrial designer, and craftsman. For many years he was professor for furniture design at the Royal College of Art, London. He is also the author of The Nature and Art of Workmanship. He died in 1993.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing (July 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964399911
• ISBN-13: 978-0964399914
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #896,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In the end, it's up to you, July 5, 2004

By 

wiredweird "wiredweird" (Earth, or somewhere nearby) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Nature & Aesthetics of Design (Paperback)

The first part of this book starts with a reasoned crtique of the Bauhaus mantra, form follows function. Start with the word "function" - he effectively takes it apart. Think of a car and its function for example. It can, at different times, demand attention from every girl on the block, it can open its back seat on lover's lane, rush a woman to the maternity ward, or carry kids to the soccer game. What is its 'real' function?

It took me a while to catch the sense that Pye meant to convey. He uses a Zen-like approach of creating new meaning by undermining the old. Beauty, of course, is in the eye of the beholder, but people don't share eyes with each other. It's in each eye uniquely, and has to be defined again by each beholder.

Beauty is also, he argues, a necessity of life and of society. Very often, beauty costs nothing. Any function can be met by an infinite family of forms, even within a rigid framework of requirements. Choosing an agreeable form is not just an option, it's a deep-set human imperative.

This is a philosophical book. It's real point, I think, is that good design must be a personal act - the technical skills can be taught, but the craft must be learned. There is no advice here that you could follow, for example, in making a better chair.

The advice is about how to make yourself a better designer.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pye at his best (and worst?), May 6, 2000

By 

George Oliver (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Nature & Aesthetics of Design (Paperback)

Pye's 'Art of Workmanship' was, somewhat like his definition of workmanship, precise and free, and while it might be unfair to compare this book on design with that book on workmanship (the 'Art of Workmanship' written after, I think, Pye's first book on design but prior to this revised edition), I think that this treatsie on design is somewhat imprecise and constrained -- perhaps compare that sentence I just wrote to Pye's 'Art of Workmanship', and that's my general impression.

Pye gives us some good stuff on 'what is design', creativity, originality, taste and perception, he's a very fine thinker and writer, and also fairly unique in his field. I would buy this book.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very Basic,, September 26, 2011

By 

kb design - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Nature and Aesthetics of Design (Paperback)

I found this book not worth paying for, the standard of presentation was the worst aspect, and the example images very ordinary.