Design and Its Challenges

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Design and Its Challenges
1.List two or three environments that you think
represent extremely high quality places. 2. List
at least three characteristics of why you think
these places are of high quality.
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A Definition of Design
Designing is an activity, aiming at the
production of Plans, which if executed are
expected to lead to a Situation with desired
properties, and without undesired, Unforeseen
side or after effects.

• Design as activity, not a product.
• Aims at something is purposeful.
• Plan as a set of instruction.

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Styles of Design
Style 1 Routine Behavior
Challenge Resolution
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Style 2 Trial and Error
Challenge Partial Resolution
Resolution
Yes
No
Feedback
Test
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A DESIGN PROJECT

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Style 3 Criteria for Judgment
New challenge
Resolution
Challenge
Alternatives
Feedback
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A DESIGN PROJECT

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A DESIGN PROJECT

STYLE III FILTER AT THE END (NO GUARANTEE THAT
ANY SOLUTION PASSES)
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THE IMAGE
Image subjective knowledge view of the
world Image is what guides our behavior, actions

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The Knowledge of the Designer

• Factual Knowledge knowledge of how the world
  is.
• Deontic Knowledge knowledge of what ought to
  be.
• Explanatory Knowledge knowledge of why
  something is.
• Instrumental Knowledge how to knowledge.
• Conceptural Knowledge symbols and conventions.

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Nature of Design Problems
Two Types of Problems/Challenges
a. Tame Challenges 1. Have an exhaustive
definition 2. Ends and Goals well defined 3.
Examples puzzles, math equations, models
b. Wicked Challenges 1. No exhauxtive
definition 2. Formulation same as resolution 3.
Examples social, political, design, and planning
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Design Challenge Characteristics

• Wicked challenges have no exhaustive
  formulation.
• The formulation is identical to the resolution.
• Every wicked challenges can be considered a
  symptom of
• another wicked challenge.
• Wicked challenges have no stopping rules.
• Wicked challenges have many explanations for
  discrepancies.

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Characteristics continued

• Wicked challenges have no test of correctness.
• Wicked challenges have no immediate or
• definitive test of resolution.
• Wicked challenges are one-shot observations.
• Wicked challenges have no list of permissible
• procedures, rules, operations, etc.
• Wicked challenge resolvers have not right to
  make an error.

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VARIABLES
Design Context Performance

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Variables

• Design Variables- issues under control of the
  designer (color, textures, sizes, shape, program
  interpretation, visual language)
• Context Variables- issues not under control of
  the design, owner, or an participant in the
  process of designing (cost of materials, climate
  zone, geological conditions, regulatory and code
  conditions.

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Variables cont.

• Performance variables- those issues which form
  the base for judgments by the designer (level of
  safety, aesthetics, level of appropriateness,
  efficiency, flexibility)
• Pƒ ( d1, d2, d3,.c1, c2, c3, )

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Scales
Nominal Ordinal Difference Ratio

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Scales

• Nominal finite, mutually exclusive values that
  are unordered ( gas liquid solid,
  construction type I, II, III, IV, V, Color
  Choice from chart, Height type low-rise
  mid-rise high-rise, acceptable unacceptable.
• Values do not matter
• Once you make a choice you have only one element

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Scales cont.

• Ordinal Approximate qualities ( grades -A-F,
  hardness - soft to hard, excellence 1-10,
  strengths weak-strong)
• Difference A continuim of numbers from which
  you select a value (Temperature measurement, wind
  speed, rainfall, elevations.)
• Can not compare elements, but can differences.
• Ratio Used to measure length, weight, volume
  (Miles to Kilometers, pounds to kilograms, cubic
  feet to cubic meters)