Critical Theory

From this initial and short project I discovered that research is so important to the process of design. How it helps to curb the creative juices toward producing a final design outcome. I also decided that theory is good and helps to structure the research process, greatly improving the final outcome and design solution when applied. I also admit that I still need to further research some of these theories, better understand them & apply them to my personal design practice.

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CRITICAL THEORY – FINAL
By Stevie Wikingi

Theory is critical to design for aiding the production of finding effective solutions to design problems. Theory greatly enhances the professional practice of a designer as it serves to streamline the research process.

Creating design theory will help the purpose of design as it continually evolves and adapts to becomes more influential and involved in many areas and facets of everyday life.
Designers must have a conscious understanding of the environment and the impact & influence their designs may have on it, whether good or bad.

Design is a goal oriented practice which is helped along with good research methods which aid the designer in completing the process of design. That is precisely why theory helps the designer become the researcher and grasp the scope and all factors which may need to be addressed to find the better solution. Often design is not finished after finding the initial solution, but because it is a process it can starts over again to meet changing needs.

Design gives a solution to a problem. The designer must take into consideration the needs of the end user to offer the best solution. This process of testing, refining, redefining and adjusting a product to suit the appropriate user is invaluable information. It helps to better understand the target audience and its needs. Design can be creating something new or useful. It affects almost every sphere of daily life. Its influence continues to change and influence the way in which we conduct our lives, socially, financially technologically. Designers have a lot of responsibility and it is wise to do adequate research, use existing theory and contribute to this pool of knowledge and ideas to improve satisfaction in resulting designs.

The broader field of design include:
• Natural Sciences
• Humanities and Liberal Arts
• Social Behavioural Sciences
• Human Professions and Services
• Creative and Applied Arts
• Technology and Engineering

Design involves creativity, lateral thinking, and the use of systematic research & inquiry methods to find best solutions. It is often based around a need and is usually deemed to be good by according to the solution it provides.
Poor design is often a result of poor research, poor research methods, lack of time, lack of motivation, poor time management or a lack of interest. This is why research and theory are to be highly valued. They assist the process so greatly.

Creativity is another essential element in the process of design. All good design has to be done using some element of creative input. Creativity can be defined simply as the act of creating. To a musician it is the task of composing a beautiful melodious string of sounds. To an artist it is beautifully & painstakingly, hand crafting a painted masterpiece. He pours his heart and soul into it, and we enjoy and admire the final result. Creativity for the designer is the same. It is awesome. It is simple. It is having fun & enjoying the process.

Creativity though, must be harnessed and used in conjunction with the other five hats as proposed by De Bono, 85. A designer must not forget to meet the project deadline, its requirements and fulfil the purpose for which the design is being created.

Theory is therefore crucial for the future of design as a professional practice. Designers need to understand how things work and why they do or don’t work, to better improve them and find better solutions. Theory & research help and aid in better, efficient, creative, & fulfilling design practice for both the designer and the user of.

By Stevie Wikingi

THEORY (draft)

Theory is critical to design as a tool for effective solutions to design problems & helps the process of design for professional practice & methods for researching to find optimum solutions.

Theory & contributing to a large pool of knowledge will help design as it evolves more & more and becomes more involved in the everyday loves of modern society.

Because design is very much part of life in most sectors of daily life, design must be more suited & adapted to meet future needs & also take into consideration the effects of the design outcome, whether good, bad, useful or not.

Creating cool designs simply for the sake of it just being ‘cool’ are fast becoming outdated as the focus shifts to consider factors such as ’sustainability’ (what impact a design may have on the environment) and to possess such knowledge and understanding is very important to the process of design and its outcome.

Also enhancing quality of life, ‘happiness’ although designing to create absolute ‘happiness’ is somewhat of a lofty idea, improving quality of life generally through design is good.

DESIGN

Design as professional practice

Design is goal oriented

Design is a process

Design gives a solution to a problem

Design improves an existing but less preferred solution

Design is creating something new or useful

Design affects almost every sphere of life, daily life

Design involves creativity, lateral thinking & systematic research & inquiry

Design uses research methods to find best solutions

Design is often based around a need and is deemed good by they it provides or does not provide for that need

Poor design is often a result of poor research or methods, lack of time, lack of interest, lack of motivation on designers part

CREATIVITY

Creativity is an essential part of the design process. all good design has to be done creatively.

Creativity is creating, as composing is to a musician. It is not simply being different or doing things differently just for the sake of being different. Creativity is awesome because it is having fun. The creative process is fun. The painter is having fun while he or she is creating a masterpiece. The musician is having fun while composing a beautiful melody of sounds.

Also creativity must be used and harnessed through systematic methods research practice. A designer must know when to stop & finish a project. When the project is complete to meet the desired solution / conclusion. Creativity is essential but must be accompanied by the other five has proposed by De Bono, 85.

In Phase One, the students will explore and discuss different aspects of Theory Constructs

such as:

How is theory constructed?

How is research constructed?

How is design constructed?

How are these interrelated?

A crucial part of design is creativity. One could say creativity is the fuel for design.  Even though the common concept is that theory, research and creativity do not blend well in this phase, creativity will be demystified by discussing the following:

What is creativity?

How does creativity relate to theory and design?

How to create awareness on creativity