Design Theory

The question – do we focus on the process or the function?

When we watched the IDEO video they mentioned that they were experts at the design process rather than experts in a specific area. Today in class we discussed the point that in ISD the focus is the process of designing something; in contrast in Functional Design we focus on each part separately, it’s operational principles, and trying to make as many possible solutions as possible.

I am a bit at a loss here as to what to think. I can see the flaws in either approach. If we focus solely on the process of how things are designed we lose some of our creativity because we are trying to follow the process. But, if we focus solely on functional design I think we lose some of the genius that comes when we master the process. I think the key is to marry the two ideas. We do indeed need to become masters of the design process – we need to know how to do it and we need to be good at it. But, we as we design I don’t think the process should be our focus – rather we should focus on functional design and simply allow our creativity to work within in the design process we have mastered.

Using an example from class – we need to become chefs not cooks. I think this is extremely true – while chefs invent recipes and create new things they also work within their mastery and knowledge of cooking. They have become experts at the process of cooking but as they cook they don’t allow the recipes they have learned and memorized to dictate what ingredients they add – rather this knowledge influences them and they are able to create more effectively.

I like the thought that design differs from science in that as we design we are not looking for the one right answer – rather we are looking for numerous answers that can solve the problem. Inherently contained in looking for the one right answer is the danger of becoming close-minded and losing creativity. There are many facts that have one right answer, but there are also many things that could be done any number of ways.

I still don’t know that I fully understand the difference between design theory and instructional design theory. It seems to me that design theory deals with the actual process of design – how we design, what some steps are, what approach we take, etc. While, instructional design theory deals more with what we do to design the material we teach, the method we choose for conveying the message (as opposed to the actual formulation of that method).