Methodology of Design
Divergence is defined as the exploration of possibilities and constraints of inherited situations by the application of critical thinking through qualitative and quantitative research methods. This in turn is used to create new understanding towards better solutions.
In extending the boundary of a design situation during the stage of divergence, it enables oneself to have a large search space in which to seek a solution and to yield fruit. Rather than focus on evaluating ideas, one must research and fact-find by asking What is valuable? What is feasible? What is dangerous? Where are the dependencies between elements? What are the penalties for getting it wrong? Are the right questions being asked?
In the phase of transformation, the research phase is mostly done. Having mapped the territory of the problem and design, the focus now narrows to a more practical level as in this stage, objectives, brief and problem boundaries are fixed while critical variable are identified, restrictions and shortcomings are identified, opportunities are taken and when judgments are made. Moreover, during the stage of transformation, the researcher seeks to eliminate, combine and transform elements pertaining to the research so the single design can be eventually decided upon and fixed in every detail. “The chosen pattern must reflect all the realities of the situation. Pattern-making ... is the creative act of turning a complicated problem into a simple one by ... deciding what to emphasize and what to overlook.” Also, in this stage, the problem gets structured into sub-problems which can be independently solved. This stage can occur at any time but it should only be applied after sufficient divergence has occurred. The freedom to change sub-goals, to add or remove features, is important, and the ability to quickly predict their feasibility and consequences is critical.
During the stage of convergence, the problem has been defined while the variables and objectives have been defined and agreed. The designer’s aim is to prototype possible scenarios for better design solution that improve the originally inherited situation. The designer must seek to reduce the secondary uncertainties progressively until only one of many possible alternative designs is left. Models become more concrete and detailed while flexibility and vagueness are to be shunned. If “unforeseen subproblems prove to be critical” then the design process must shift back to transformation mode where all variables can be considered. Convergence can be done, as a programmer would say, from the top down or from the bottom up; or architecturally speaking, from the outside inward or inside outward. The best approach is often to do both at once, and resolve differences as the two processes meet.
Sustainability is defined as managing the process of exploring, redefining and prototyping of design solutions continually over time.
In the stage of articulation, there is the visual relationship between the parts and the whole. “The goal of design methods is to gain key insights or unique essential truths resulting in more holistic solutions in order to achieve better experiences for users with products, services, environments and systems they rely upon. Insight, in this case, is clear and deep investigation of a situation through design methods, thereby grasping the inner nature of things intuitively.”
Divergence is defined as the exploration of possibilities and constraints of inherited situations by the application of critical thinking through qualitative and quantitative research methods. This in turn is used to create new understanding towards better solutions.
In extending the boundary of a design situation during the stage of divergence, it enables oneself to have a large search space in which to seek a solution and to yield fruit. Rather than focus on evaluating ideas, one must research and fact-find by asking What is valuable? What is feasible? What is dangerous? Where are the dependencies between elements? What are the penalties for getting it wrong? Are the right questions being asked?
In the phase of transformation, the research phase is mostly done. Having mapped the territory of the problem and design, the focus now narrows to a more practical level as in this stage, objectives, brief and problem boundaries are fixed while critical variable are identified, restrictions and shortcomings are identified, opportunities are taken and when judgments are made. Moreover, during the stage of transformation, the researcher seeks to eliminate, combine and transform elements pertaining to the research so the single design can be eventually decided upon and fixed in every detail. “The chosen pattern must reflect all the realities of the situation. Pattern-making ... is the creative act of turning a complicated problem into a simple one by ... deciding what to emphasize and what to overlook.” Also, in this stage, the problem gets structured into sub-problems which can be independently solved. This stage can occur at any time but it should only be applied after sufficient divergence has occurred. The freedom to change sub-goals, to add or remove features, is important, and the ability to quickly predict their feasibility and consequences is critical.
During the stage of convergence, the problem has been defined while the variables and objectives have been defined and agreed. The designer’s aim is to prototype possible scenarios for better design solution that improve the originally inherited situation. The designer must seek to reduce the secondary uncertainties progressively until only one of many possible alternative designs is left. Models become more concrete and detailed while flexibility and vagueness are to be shunned. If “unforeseen subproblems prove to be critical” then the design process must shift back to transformation mode where all variables can be considered. Convergence can be done, as a programmer would say, from the top down or from the bottom up; or architecturally speaking, from the outside inward or inside outward. The best approach is often to do both at once, and resolve differences as the two processes meet.
Sustainability is defined as managing the process of exploring, redefining and prototyping of design solutions continually over time.
In the stage of articulation, there is the visual relationship between the parts and the whole. “The goal of design methods is to gain key insights or unique essential truths resulting in more holistic solutions in order to achieve better experiences for users with products, services, environments and systems they rely upon. Insight, in this case, is clear and deep investigation of a situation through design methods, thereby grasping the inner nature of things intuitively.”