Contextual System Design Process for Design Collaboration and Education

Abstract

Background For design issues with complex contexts, it is necessary to structure the design process so that many collaborators communicate effectively. Also, for design learning, a structural design process is imperative to deal with multiple contexts together. However, design processes have not been structurally presented to address the context of design. This study proposes a design process to structure the contextual characteristics of the design. Methods This is an analytical study that combines design process and system theory. First, the characteristics of 'context' were reviewed. Second, the design processes from a scientific and biological system perspective that suggest contextual attributes, were reviewed. Third, system theory was introduced to structure the contextual characteristics of design. Fourth, each step was proposed by reinterpreting it as a practical design process. Results The structured system design process model is divided into visible and invisible areas, consisting of a 'downward process' to judge context and an 'upward process' to create form. In particular, the upward process consists of spirit design, structure design, direction design and experience design. In the structured design process, logic and intuition can actually be used to move and jump up, down, left, and right to develop ideas flexibly. Conclusions The proposed design process is a structure that enables design collaboration that addresses complex contexts and understanding of design thinking within a single model. This allows companies to systematically manage contextual design and branding. Furthermore, design education using intuition and logic can be systematically strengthened.