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How designers think
is discursive and communicative (appropriate to its brief). While most of the multifarious topics are taken up in an extremely comprehensive bibliography of suggested further reading, essays touching art theory, engineering some of the more axiomatic sounding science, theoretical physics and philostatements (for example concerning sophy. For example, a reference to the human response to abstract images) aesthetics of the cracking patterns of would have been served by explicit Chinese vases ('an inherent beauty that represents forces in equilibrium') is referencing to sources. followed by a discursive account of the For a text entitled Logic and design, tensile forces that determine the there is a surprisingly brief mention of geometry of architectural cable-net design theory or design research (and structures. this in the final chapter). The author In a single chapter discussion of presents a problem-solving model Islamic patterns (Figure 1 ) is conjoined seen as a 'design spectrum' which with the theory of abstract expressionaccommodates seven distinct elements ism and the mathematics of oscillation as follows: ratio and proportion;inMusical theory is a recurrent topic. duction; deduction; analogy ; metaphor; The composition of music and graphic heuristics and finally algorithmic art are linked in a section on dynamic procedures. The only method which and harmonic series. merits a stage-by-stage discussion A declared aim of tl~s text is to is that based on the familiar sequence complement the specialist topics of of propose, test and evaluate promodern education and training procedures. Given the involvement of the grammes with a broad introduction to computer in many of the applications both art and science. Encompassing discussed here, particularly in the such an encylopaedic coverage in a graphic representation of mathematical single volume is an exceedingly ambimodels, there is little reference to comtious goal. While the references to puter methods as such; a surprising individual topics are intentionally omission since the vivid discussion of brief, how meaningful can a halfmathematical principles and their page statement on catastrophe theory, graphic representation in the book will followed on the next page by an equally enhance the image of that abstract brief allocation to abstract expressiondiscipline for the less numerate readerism be to the average reader. The style ship.
Design philosophy" discrete approaches to a common theme Knome Barratt Logic and design Godwin, UK (1980) 325 pp, £14.95 Bryan Lawson How designers think Architectural Press, U K (1980) 216 pp, £9.75 John Paterson Architecture and the microprocessor John Wiley, UK (1980) 229 pp, £13.80 Reviewed by Patrick Purcell, Department of Design Research, Royal College of Art, London These three recent titles together provide three distinctive presentations of a common theme. The first looks at the element of design underlying many aspects of the arts and the sciences. The second complements a discussion of design philosophy with an enquiry iflto the psychological processes that appear to operate in the activity of designing. The last text presents a personal design philosophy as a context in which to discuss the impact of the microprocessor in architectural design. Linking the t w o cultures As the reader moves from the spine title, to the title page and then to the author's preface, he experiences a marked shift of anticipation as to the content of the book. Logic and design on the cover intimates a treatise concerned with the rational design tradition or with systematic design methods. However, the full title Logic and design in art, science and mathematics refers to a much broader canvas and a very different perspective. It is a perspective which claims to 'examine the key principles of design and shows how these underline much of what we know of aft, mathematics and science'. As engineer, mathematician and artist, the author is qualified to take on this multidisciplinary stance. The lines of this wide-ranging discourse are threaded through a central framework of mathematical topics such as the geometries of lines, edges, curves and solids ; systems of ratio, proportion and scale ; the mathematics of simple oscillatory structures ; the significance of number. Taken together these topics form a focal theme from which to pursue a succession of varied
vol 2 no 1 january 1981
Figure I. Hexagonal Islamic pattern, courtesy George Godwin 55
Speaking of the readership, it is not easy to identify for whom the book is primarily intended. While the publisher's note speaks of it as an introductory text, to engage with the plethora of cross-cultural references calls for a reader who has something of the polymath background of the author.
Design theory and practice A book of a very different kind is .How designers think by Bryan Lawson. According to the introduction it is 'about design problems and how to understand them' and 'about design processes and how to learn, develop and practice them' - an ambitious brief, superimposed on an ambitious title ! The book is in three parts. The introductory section focuses principally on the origins of design methodology with a brief review of the better known design 'maps' that have evolved over the past two decades. The central section explores the components of the design problem and the issues of measurement, design criteria and judgements that are employed in such exploration. Lawson rounds off his treatise with a chapter on design philosophies, which moves progressively from theoretical issues to a review of design strategies and tactics. He estab]ishes his stance early on with the dictum that 'design is a highly complex and sophisticated skill. It is not a mystical ability given only to those with recondite powers, but a skill which for many must be ]earned and practised like the playing of a sport or a musical instrument'. The review of the history of exemplary design methods is stringent. The tone is pragmatic: 'a significant part of the design problem lies in relating to what already exists'. For the author the justification for design methods and research in the design process still obtains, namely that the whole process of designing and the ;: role of the designed should be open to inspection and critical evaluation. On this issue, the book extends the discussion of design methods into the subject of user participation and the changing role of the designer in society. For a general review of work in design methods, the stance is gratuitously critical and mainly unconvincing, even towards the use of basic design maps such as the RIBA plan of work
56
The claim to be reviewed in these columns is based on the first half of the book in which the author presents Outl,ne proposals A j an individualistic view of the history of architecture and the development of Deasion architectural theory. The chapter on Scheme design A 'The methods' lists several problemt solving techniques (such as the Delphi Decision ] technique) which have application in Detod design -/~ architectural design. The style is encylopaedic (akin N/ to Barratt) embracing catastrophe Figure 2 Strathclyde map of design theory, theoretical physics, theory of process, courtesy Architectural Press music, cognitive psychology and linguistic philosophy. or the Strathclyde map of the design In his discussion of the role of the process (Figure 2). computer in design organizations, the The final chapters of the book author draws on extensive academic acknowledge the contribution which and professional experience in computhe theory and practice of information ter-aided architectural design. He processing have made to design research, acknowledges the hierarchy of roles and both in the study of the design process skills (design, managerial, technical and and in the development of computer administrative) that combine together aids to design. in the building team, each with its The title and discussion of the special applications and computing techniques of designing are cautionary needs. The section on the information in tone - 'design tactics and traps'. flows that operate in architectural The section on 'the iconic trap' takes design is competently presented. to task the heavy emphasis in the The final chapter includes a disarchitectural jury system on the cursive account of the application of presentation drawing 'which can impose the microcomputer in specific applicatheir own grammar on the designer's tions, in the design, design managethought processes, and the visually ment, production documentation, sensitive designer can often be led costing and briefing. into problems of two or three dimenThe overall assessment of the role sional composition that exists in the of the microcomputer in the design drawing only'. In general, the content of this book office is basically uncritical. The virtues of cost and compactness are makes a valuable, if individualistic conlisted. Some of the limitation affecting tribution to the literature of design operating systems, processing capacity, theory. Its communicative style will maintenance and customer support are make it accessible to designers seeking underplayed in the context of the full an understanding of the complex and architectural computing environment. subtle processes on which they are More space could have been afforded to engaged. The author's background the basic technical details of microin both architecture and psychology computers. contributes to both these roles. The book is well illustrated in a However, both the book's title clear and consistent graphic style. and the tone of many of its chapters will surely attract a polemic response from theoreticians and practitioners alike.
A design philosophy for computer application At first sight, the inclusion of Architecture and the microprocessor might appear as the odd man out in this trio of new titles. However in the conjunction of terms in the title, architecture gets much more of the discussion than the microprocessor. As in the case of Logic and design there is a marked shift of perspective between the title and the table of contents.
Trunk traffic Sir George Leitch (chairman) Forecasting traffic on trunk roads: a report on the regional highway traffic model project HMSO, London (1980) 81 pp,
£4.25 The terms of appointment of the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment (SACTRA) requested first an examination of two topics: methods of traffic forecasting and the development of a comprehensive
DESIGN STUDIES
Design philosophy" discrete approaches to a common theme Knome Barratt Logic and design Godwin, UK (1980) 325 pp, £14.95 Bryan Lawson How designers think Architectural Press, U K (1980) 216 pp, £9.75 John Paterson Architecture and the microprocessor John Wiley, UK (1980) 229 pp, £13.80 Reviewed by Patrick Purcell, Department of Design Research, Royal College of Art, London These three recent titles together provide three distinctive presentations of a common theme. The first looks at the element of design underlying many aspects of the arts and the sciences. The second complements a discussion of design philosophy with an enquiry iflto the psychological processes that appear to operate in the activity of designing. The last text presents a personal design philosophy as a context in which to discuss the impact of the microprocessor in architectural design. Linking the t w o cultures As the reader moves from the spine title, to the title page and then to the author's preface, he experiences a marked shift of anticipation as to the content of the book. Logic and design on the cover intimates a treatise concerned with the rational design tradition or with systematic design methods. However, the full title Logic and design in art, science and mathematics refers to a much broader canvas and a very different perspective. It is a perspective which claims to 'examine the key principles of design and shows how these underline much of what we know of aft, mathematics and science'. As engineer, mathematician and artist, the author is qualified to take on this multidisciplinary stance. The lines of this wide-ranging discourse are threaded through a central framework of mathematical topics such as the geometries of lines, edges, curves and solids ; systems of ratio, proportion and scale ; the mathematics of simple oscillatory structures ; the significance of number. Taken together these topics form a focal theme from which to pursue a succession of varied
vol 2 no 1 january 1981
Figure I. Hexagonal Islamic pattern, courtesy George Godwin 55
Speaking of the readership, it is not easy to identify for whom the book is primarily intended. While the publisher's note speaks of it as an introductory text, to engage with the plethora of cross-cultural references calls for a reader who has something of the polymath background of the author.
Design theory and practice A book of a very different kind is .How designers think by Bryan Lawson. According to the introduction it is 'about design problems and how to understand them' and 'about design processes and how to learn, develop and practice them' - an ambitious brief, superimposed on an ambitious title ! The book is in three parts. The introductory section focuses principally on the origins of design methodology with a brief review of the better known design 'maps' that have evolved over the past two decades. The central section explores the components of the design problem and the issues of measurement, design criteria and judgements that are employed in such exploration. Lawson rounds off his treatise with a chapter on design philosophies, which moves progressively from theoretical issues to a review of design strategies and tactics. He estab]ishes his stance early on with the dictum that 'design is a highly complex and sophisticated skill. It is not a mystical ability given only to those with recondite powers, but a skill which for many must be ]earned and practised like the playing of a sport or a musical instrument'. The review of the history of exemplary design methods is stringent. The tone is pragmatic: 'a significant part of the design problem lies in relating to what already exists'. For the author the justification for design methods and research in the design process still obtains, namely that the whole process of designing and the ;: role of the designed should be open to inspection and critical evaluation. On this issue, the book extends the discussion of design methods into the subject of user participation and the changing role of the designer in society. For a general review of work in design methods, the stance is gratuitously critical and mainly unconvincing, even towards the use of basic design maps such as the RIBA plan of work
56
The claim to be reviewed in these columns is based on the first half of the book in which the author presents Outl,ne proposals A j an individualistic view of the history of architecture and the development of Deasion architectural theory. The chapter on Scheme design A 'The methods' lists several problemt solving techniques (such as the Delphi Decision ] technique) which have application in Detod design -/~ architectural design. The style is encylopaedic (akin N/ to Barratt) embracing catastrophe Figure 2 Strathclyde map of design theory, theoretical physics, theory of process, courtesy Architectural Press music, cognitive psychology and linguistic philosophy. or the Strathclyde map of the design In his discussion of the role of the process (Figure 2). computer in design organizations, the The final chapters of the book author draws on extensive academic acknowledge the contribution which and professional experience in computhe theory and practice of information ter-aided architectural design. He processing have made to design research, acknowledges the hierarchy of roles and both in the study of the design process skills (design, managerial, technical and and in the development of computer administrative) that combine together aids to design. in the building team, each with its The title and discussion of the special applications and computing techniques of designing are cautionary needs. The section on the information in tone - 'design tactics and traps'. flows that operate in architectural The section on 'the iconic trap' takes design is competently presented. to task the heavy emphasis in the The final chapter includes a disarchitectural jury system on the cursive account of the application of presentation drawing 'which can impose the microcomputer in specific applicatheir own grammar on the designer's tions, in the design, design managethought processes, and the visually ment, production documentation, sensitive designer can often be led costing and briefing. into problems of two or three dimenThe overall assessment of the role sional composition that exists in the of the microcomputer in the design drawing only'. In general, the content of this book office is basically uncritical. The virtues of cost and compactness are makes a valuable, if individualistic conlisted. Some of the limitation affecting tribution to the literature of design operating systems, processing capacity, theory. Its communicative style will maintenance and customer support are make it accessible to designers seeking underplayed in the context of the full an understanding of the complex and architectural computing environment. subtle processes on which they are More space could have been afforded to engaged. The author's background the basic technical details of microin both architecture and psychology computers. contributes to both these roles. The book is well illustrated in a However, both the book's title clear and consistent graphic style. and the tone of many of its chapters will surely attract a polemic response from theoreticians and practitioners alike.
A design philosophy for computer application At first sight, the inclusion of Architecture and the microprocessor might appear as the odd man out in this trio of new titles. However in the conjunction of terms in the title, architecture gets much more of the discussion than the microprocessor. As in the case of Logic and design there is a marked shift of perspective between the title and the table of contents.
Trunk traffic Sir George Leitch (chairman) Forecasting traffic on trunk roads: a report on the regional highway traffic model project HMSO, London (1980) 81 pp,
£4.25 The terms of appointment of the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment (SACTRA) requested first an examination of two topics: methods of traffic forecasting and the development of a comprehensive
DESIGN STUDIES