On the idea of design: Analyzing the ideal form of cars

Abstract

This paper calls the Renaissance the 'Golden Age of Design' due to the high meaning of the original design theory. It seeks to answer the question what was the 'Idea' behind 'Disegno'. To achieve this, we analyze different books of the Classical Antiquity and the Renaissance that were mainly important for its invention. Then, the paper will introduce an investigation concept, which takes the peculiarities of the original design into account. Finally, parts of the proposed concept will be tested by analyzing the ideal form of cars. © 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland.