Design theories as languages of the unknown: insights from the German roots of systematic design (1840–1960)

In this paper, relying on the formal framework provided by one of the most recent design theories, C–K theory, we analyse the historical development of design theories in the particular case of German systematic design. We study the three moments in the development of design theories (1850, 1900 and 1950). The analysis leads to the three main research conclusions regarding design theorizing. (1) The development of design theories and methods corresponds to specific rationalizations of the design activity in historical contexts, characterized by types of products, science and knowledge production capacities. (2) While engineering sciences model known objects, design theories support reasoning on unknown objects. (3) Design methods do not target single innovations but aim to improve collective design capacities. Their performance can be assessed by the types of new objects they help design (generative capacity) and in terms of the capacities required by their users (conjunctive capacity). Historically, systematic design emerged as a formal framework with particularly strong generative and conjunctive capacities.

[1]  Arnold Thackray,et al.  Science and Technology in the Industrial Revolution , 1970 .

[2]  Arnold Thackray,et al.  Philadelphia’s Philosopher Mechanics: A History of the Franklin Institute, 1824–1865 by Bruce Sinclair (review) , 1974 .

[3]  Bernard Yannou,et al.  ON THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE ENGINEERING DESIGN AND THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS MODELS — PART I: ELABORATIONS ON THE GENERALLY ACCEPTED PROCESS MODELS , 2011 .

[4]  John R. Dixon,et al.  A review of research in mechanical engineering design. Part II: Representations, analysis, and design for the life cycle , 1989 .

[5]  P. Masson,et al.  AUX SOURCES DE LA R&D : GENÈSE DES THÉORIES DE LA CONCEPTION RÉGLÉE EN ALLEMAGNE (1840-1960) , 2010 .

[6]  Klaus Ehrlenspiel,et al.  Integrierte Produktentwicklung : Methoden für Prozeßorganisation, Produkterstellung und Konstruktion , 1995 .

[7]  Armand Hatchuel,et al.  C-K design theory: an advanced formulation , 2008 .

[8]  Yoram Reich,et al.  A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH OF DESIGN THEORIES USING GENERATIVENESS AND ROBUSTNESS , 2011 .

[9]  T. Long,et al.  RÉFLEXIONS SUR LA PUISSANCE MOTRICE DU FEU, ET SUR LES MACHINES PROPRES A DÉVELOPPER CETTE PUISSANCE. , 1903 .

[10]  M. F.,et al.  Bibliography , 1985, Experimental Gerontology.

[11]  R. Sternberg.  Handbook of Creativity: Subject Index , 1998 .

[12]  Samuel Smiles.  James Brindley and the Early Engineers , 1999 .

[13]  Lucienne Blessing,et al.  Observations on Some German Contributions to Engineering Design In Memory of Professor Wolfgang Beitz , 2000 .

[14]  F. Redtenbacher,et al.  Prinzipien der Mechanik und des Maschinenbaues , 1852 .

[15]  L. B. Alberti,et al.  Ten books on architecture , 1956 .

[16]  Subrata Dasgupta.  Design Theory and Computer Science: Design Paradigms , 1991 .

[17]  Armand Hatchuel,et al.  A NEW APPROACH OF INNOVATIVE DESIGN : AN INTRODUCTION TO C-K THEORY. , 2003 .

[18]  Ferdinand Jakob Redtenbacher.  Resultate für den Maschinenbau , 1848 .

[19]  Ferdinand Trendelenburg.  Aus der Geschichte der Forschung im Hause Siemens , 1975 .

[20]  Akin Kazakçi,et al.  A MODEL OF CK DESIGN THEORY BASED ON TERM LOGIC: A FORMAL CK BACKGROUND FOR A CLASS OF DESIGN ASSISTANTS , 2008 .

[21]  Subrata Dasgupta,et al.  Design theory and computer science: processes and methodology of computer systems design , 1991 .

[22]  Rudolf Koller,et al.  Konstruktionslehre für den Maschinenbau , 1985 .

[23]  Gaspard Monge,et al.  Géométrie descriptive. Leçons données aux écoles normales, l'an 3 de la République , 1971 .

[24]  HU Min-zhong,et al.  On Creative Cognition , 2005 .

[25]  Karlheinz Roth,et al.  Konstruieren Mit Konstruktionskatalogen , 1994 .

[26]  J. V. Poncelet,et al.  Introduction à la mécanique industrielle : physique ou expérimentale , 2022 .

[27]  Sadi Carnot,et al.  Réflexions Sur La Puissance Motrice Du Feu Et Sur Les Machines Propres À Développer Cette Puissance , 2015 .

[28]  Lynwood Bryant.  The Development of the Diesel Engine , 1976 .

[29]  W. König.  Künstler und Strichezieher : Konstruktions- und Technikkulturen im deutschen, britischen, amerikanischen und französischen Maschinenbau zwischen 1850 und 1930 , 1999 .

[30]  Eric Robinson,et al.  Science and Technology in the Industrial Revolution , 1970 .

[31]  A. Riedler.  Emil Rathenau und das Werden der Großwirtschaft , 1916 .

[32]  Herbert A. Simon,et al.  The Sciences of the Artificial , 1970 .

[33]  Vitruvius Pollio,et al.  Ten Books on Architecture , 2019 .

[34]  Charles Babbage,et al.  Reflections on the Decline of Science in England, and on Some of Its Causes , 1970 .