Equally emphasizing design practice and design theory
Oct 31, 2023
Some people say that design is a practical subject and does not require the study of theory. This statement has some truth to it, but it only sees one side of the issue and not the other. My view is as follows:
In design, as in practice and knowledge, the two are interrelated. Design practice and design theory can be seen as the left and right legs. To go further, both are indispensable. The role of the two in design can be summarized in three stages: design practice -> summary of design theory from design practice -> design theory feedback on the next design practice... With this cycle, the level and scope of design will gradually improve.
1. The Conditions for Implementing Practical Design
Design attitude: Take each design practice opportunity seriously. Only then can the effect of the design practice be maximized.
Design goals: Consciously select reasonable design innovation goals. When thinking about design, you can consciously pursue reasonable innovation, experiment with possible design methods, and have an innovative point compared to the last design practice, otherwise you will be standing still in the comfort zone.
Ability assessment: Objectively assess your own level of design ability. Being eager for quick success cannot maximize the essence of design practice, on the contrary, it will make design practice ethereal and rootless. The root refers to the current design ability. Quantity brings quality change. Down-to-earth and honest design practices will reap many rewards.
2. The Three Types of Design Theory
Design theory can be an empirical principle theory:
Design theory is the essence of the summary and induction of design practice, and design can be carried out according to the principle of design theory. Doing so can effectively improve design efficiency and reliability, but we cannot regard empirical principle theory as the truth. Design is a dynamic process, and we need to test the usability of design theory at any time during design practice.
Design theory can be a jumping-type guiding theory:
Design theory is a jumping-type guiding theory that allows conformity, purpose, and speculation based on rationality and purpose of the status quo. It has a guiding effect on design. In design practice, this type of theory can often bring very good design results. It considers both the present and future and is a very effective design theory, which can even expand the market in commercial design.
Design theory can be an ideal-type theory for the future:
Design theory can also be a vision and aspiration for the future. This type of theory is closely related to social benefits, technological development, and emerging cultures. It has a utopian color and can exist as a distant design goal. This type of design theory can unify the consistency of secondary design theory and is a design guideline.
3. The Relationship between Design Practice and Design Theory
Design practice is the source of all design theories. Without design practice, there would be no design theory. From design practice, we can summarize and induct what we have learned from this design practice, what the highlights of the design are, and what areas have not been well thought out in the design, in order to apply and avoid them in the next practice. This process is what we call "post-game analysis."
Design theory is the idea and action guide for design practice. Principles correspond to action guides, that is, design theory that can be directly applied in the practice process. This type of theory is often shallow and can be directly applied in design. Guiding type theory corresponds to thinking and action guides, and it has a certain guiding effect on both aspects; with a guiding effect on the current action and a thinking guideline on the future. Ideal-type theory corresponds to a thought guide, and this type of theory is difficult to have a direct effect on design execution, so it is often used as a thought guideline. However, it can create a variety of intermediary theories such as guiding and principles theory to guide design execution.
Design practice and design theory are complementary and indispensable. Design practice and design theory are the left and right legs. To go further, both are indispensable. Losing design practice will cause the design theory to have no source, and the usability of the design theory cannot be verified. Losing design theory will cause design practice to be mired in fog and confusion, just like a navigator losing a compass, without a goal.
Overall, design practice and design theory are equally important, and both need to be considered in the design process. We cannot neglect either of them, only focusing on practice or theory, which will make our understanding of design one-sided and secular. Only by promoting each other can design go further and be more practical.
Equally emphasizing design practice and design theory
Oct 31, 2023
Some people say that design is a practical subject and does not require the study of theory. This statement has some truth to it, but it only sees one side of the issue and not the other. My view is as follows:
In design, as in practice and knowledge, the two are interrelated. Design practice and design theory can be seen as the left and right legs. To go further, both are indispensable. The role of the two in design can be summarized in three stages: design practice -> summary of design theory from design practice -> design theory feedback on the next design practice... With this cycle, the level and scope of design will gradually improve.
1. The Conditions for Implementing Practical Design
Design attitude: Take each design practice opportunity seriously. Only then can the effect of the design practice be maximized.
Design goals: Consciously select reasonable design innovation goals. When thinking about design, you can consciously pursue reasonable innovation, experiment with possible design methods, and have an innovative point compared to the last design practice, otherwise you will be standing still in the comfort zone.
Ability assessment: Objectively assess your own level of design ability. Being eager for quick success cannot maximize the essence of design practice, on the contrary, it will make design practice ethereal and rootless. The root refers to the current design ability. Quantity brings quality change. Down-to-earth and honest design practices will reap many rewards.
2. The Three Types of Design Theory
Design theory can be an empirical principle theory:
Design theory is the essence of the summary and induction of design practice, and design can be carried out according to the principle of design theory. Doing so can effectively improve design efficiency and reliability, but we cannot regard empirical principle theory as the truth. Design is a dynamic process, and we need to test the usability of design theory at any time during design practice.
Design theory can be a jumping-type guiding theory:
Design theory is a jumping-type guiding theory that allows conformity, purpose, and speculation based on rationality and purpose of the status quo. It has a guiding effect on design. In design practice, this type of theory can often bring very good design results. It considers both the present and future and is a very effective design theory, which can even expand the market in commercial design.
Design theory can be an ideal-type theory for the future:
Design theory can also be a vision and aspiration for the future. This type of theory is closely related to social benefits, technological development, and emerging cultures. It has a utopian color and can exist as a distant design goal. This type of design theory can unify the consistency of secondary design theory and is a design guideline.
3. The Relationship between Design Practice and Design Theory
Design practice is the source of all design theories. Without design practice, there would be no design theory. From design practice, we can summarize and induct what we have learned from this design practice, what the highlights of the design are, and what areas have not been well thought out in the design, in order to apply and avoid them in the next practice. This process is what we call "post-game analysis."
Design theory is the idea and action guide for design practice. Principles correspond to action guides, that is, design theory that can be directly applied in the practice process. This type of theory is often shallow and can be directly applied in design. Guiding type theory corresponds to thinking and action guides, and it has a certain guiding effect on both aspects; with a guiding effect on the current action and a thinking guideline on the future. Ideal-type theory corresponds to a thought guide, and this type of theory is difficult to have a direct effect on design execution, so it is often used as a thought guideline. However, it can create a variety of intermediary theories such as guiding and principles theory to guide design execution.
Design practice and design theory are complementary and indispensable. Design practice and design theory are the left and right legs. To go further, both are indispensable. Losing design practice will cause the design theory to have no source, and the usability of the design theory cannot be verified. Losing design theory will cause design practice to be mired in fog and confusion, just like a navigator losing a compass, without a goal.
Overall, design practice and design theory are equally important, and both need to be considered in the design process. We cannot neglect either of them, only focusing on practice or theory, which will make our understanding of design one-sided and secular. Only by promoting each other can design go further and be more practical.
Equally emphasizing design practice and design theory
Oct 31, 2023
Some people say that design is a practical subject and does not require the study of theory. This statement has some truth to it, but it only sees one side of the issue and not the other. My view is as follows:
In design, as in practice and knowledge, the two are interrelated. Design practice and design theory can be seen as the left and right legs. To go further, both are indispensable. The role of the two in design can be summarized in three stages: design practice -> summary of design theory from design practice -> design theory feedback on the next design practice... With this cycle, the level and scope of design will gradually improve.
1. The Conditions for Implementing Practical Design
Design attitude: Take each design practice opportunity seriously. Only then can the effect of the design practice be maximized.
Design goals: Consciously select reasonable design innovation goals. When thinking about design, you can consciously pursue reasonable innovation, experiment with possible design methods, and have an innovative point compared to the last design practice, otherwise you will be standing still in the comfort zone.
Ability assessment: Objectively assess your own level of design ability. Being eager for quick success cannot maximize the essence of design practice, on the contrary, it will make design practice ethereal and rootless. The root refers to the current design ability. Quantity brings quality change. Down-to-earth and honest design practices will reap many rewards.
2. The Three Types of Design Theory
Design theory can be an empirical principle theory:
Design theory is the essence of the summary and induction of design practice, and design can be carried out according to the principle of design theory. Doing so can effectively improve design efficiency and reliability, but we cannot regard empirical principle theory as the truth. Design is a dynamic process, and we need to test the usability of design theory at any time during design practice.
Design theory can be a jumping-type guiding theory:
Design theory is a jumping-type guiding theory that allows conformity, purpose, and speculation based on rationality and purpose of the status quo. It has a guiding effect on design. In design practice, this type of theory can often bring very good design results. It considers both the present and future and is a very effective design theory, which can even expand the market in commercial design.
Design theory can be an ideal-type theory for the future:
Design theory can also be a vision and aspiration for the future. This type of theory is closely related to social benefits, technological development, and emerging cultures. It has a utopian color and can exist as a distant design goal. This type of design theory can unify the consistency of secondary design theory and is a design guideline.
3. The Relationship between Design Practice and Design Theory
Design practice is the source of all design theories. Without design practice, there would be no design theory. From design practice, we can summarize and induct what we have learned from this design practice, what the highlights of the design are, and what areas have not been well thought out in the design, in order to apply and avoid them in the next practice. This process is what we call "post-game analysis."
Design theory is the idea and action guide for design practice. Principles correspond to action guides, that is, design theory that can be directly applied in the practice process. This type of theory is often shallow and can be directly applied in design. Guiding type theory corresponds to thinking and action guides, and it has a certain guiding effect on both aspects; with a guiding effect on the current action and a thinking guideline on the future. Ideal-type theory corresponds to a thought guide, and this type of theory is difficult to have a direct effect on design execution, so it is often used as a thought guideline. However, it can create a variety of intermediary theories such as guiding and principles theory to guide design execution.
Design practice and design theory are complementary and indispensable. Design practice and design theory are the left and right legs. To go further, both are indispensable. Losing design practice will cause the design theory to have no source, and the usability of the design theory cannot be verified. Losing design theory will cause design practice to be mired in fog and confusion, just like a navigator losing a compass, without a goal.
Overall, design practice and design theory are equally important, and both need to be considered in the design process. We cannot neglect either of them, only focusing on practice or theory, which will make our understanding of design one-sided and secular. Only by promoting each other can design go further and be more practical.