The Design Space

Abstract

The principal motivation for this dissertation and the research endeavour as a whole was the concern that current descriptions of the design process, generally conceptualised as a linear progression of sequential events and as an altogether rational, decision making process, do not reflect the actual nature of designing. These process descriptions are fed back into design education to influence students’ design activity and create difficulties for them as they are put in a position where expectations focus on a rational and expedient resolution of design tasks, at odds with their actual experience of designing.