Text: Jens Persson, September 2017
Should we be aiming to mimic the ways of traditional academic
disciplines? Or, ought we perhaps find our own way, accepting that
we are different, and allow the unique nature of the design process
to guide us? Johan Redström thinks we should.
In his new book, Making Design Theory, UID rector Johan Redström
sketches a way forward, suggesting that we not consider theory in
design as something constant or stable but rather as fluent and
unfolding.
"I believe it's time to give up the idea that design theories
should strive towards consistency or that they should carry
validity over time. Instead, we should encourage that they change
and evolve", says Johan Redström.
"For a long time, we have tried to make the theories coming out
of practice-based design research to aspire towards universal
legitimacy. In my view, this is in direct conflict with how design
must relate to changing contexts over time. We are not in the
business of describing the world, we are in the business of
changing it, hopefully for the better. This means that our
research, and consequently how we produce theories, must differ
significantly from more scientific disciplines".
Being a young academic discipline, design has been subject to
intense debate over what it should entail and strive for. Much of
the theorizing on design to date has taken place from the outside,
by art historians or art critics. The designers themselves have
been subjected to play a bit-part role, to a large extent by their
own choosing. The role of the designer has traditionally been to
produce things rather than reflect and comment in an academic
context. This has been true in most artistic disciplines and as
such a division has manifested itself between those who make things
and those who comment on them.
Johan Redström believes the conflict has stifled the development
of design research. Going forward, he feels it is vital that
designers play a key role in defining the unique nature of design
research, helping to identify what sets it apart from scientific
disciplines. You simply cannot fit a square peg in a round
hole.
"Personally, I have no desire to be scientific, design is not a
scientific discipline. So, when we are making theories I suggest
that we can actually make them, that they can be produced through
practice. It shouldn't be about theory or practice, it should be
about both, at the same time. It is also important that we realize
that in design, theories should always be considered fluid and
transitional. For design, at its core, is just that", says Johan
Redström.
Making Design Theory was published by MIT Press on August
25th, 2017. For more
info, visit the MIT Press website
