Design paradigm
Encyclopedia
The term Design paradigm derives from the rather ambiguous idea of paradigm
originating in Sociology of Science, which carries at least two main meanings:
While the first meaning of "design paradigm" refers to exemplary design solutions that create "design trends", the second meaning refers to what a group of people expects from a type of design solutions.
The term "Design paradigm" is used within the design
professions, including architecture
, industrial design
and engineering
design, to indicate an archetypal solution. Thus a Swiss Army Knife
is a design paradigm
illustrating the concept of a single object that changes configuration to address a number of problems.
Design paradigms have been introduced in a number of books including Design Paradigms by Warren Wake, and Design Paradigms by Henry Petroski
. Architect Christopher Alexander's A Pattern Language
is thought to have first popularized the term.
Design paradigms can be used either to describe a design solution, or as an approach to design problem solving. Problem solving occurs through a process of abstraction and characterization of design solutions, with subsequent categorization into problem solving types. The approach is akin to the use of metaphor in language; metaphors are used to help explain concepts that are new or unfamiliar, and to bridge between a problem we understand and a problem we don't. Design paradigms then can be seen as higher order metaphors; as the often three-dimensional distillation of a working relationship between parts, between groups of things, between the known and the unknown. In this sense, a bridge is a paradigm of the connection between the known and the unknown, and the functional equivalent of a physical bridge is consequently used in many fields from computer hardware to musical composition.
The design paradigms concept has proven so powerful in traditional fields of design, that it has inspired a branch of computer science
, where computational analogies to design paradigms are commonly called design patterns. Importantly however, in design professions the term "design pattern
" usually describes a 2-dimensional structure, whereas the term paradigm (or model) usually imply a higher order, having 3 or more dimensions.
Paradigm
The word paradigm has been used in science to describe distinct concepts. It comes from Greek "παράδειγμα" , "pattern, example, sample" from the verb "παραδείκνυμι" , "exhibit, represent, expose" and that from "παρά" , "beside, beyond" + "δείκνυμι" , "to show, to point out".The original Greek...
originating in Sociology of Science, which carries at least two main meanings:
As models, archetypeArchetypeAn archetype is a universally understood symbol or term or pattern of behavior, a prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated...
s, or quintessential examples of solutions to problems. A 'paradigmatic design' in this sense, refers to a design solution that is considered by a community as being successful and influential. Usually success is associated to market share or some other measure of popularity, but this need not be the case. For instance, the eMate and other Apple NewtonApple NewtonThe MessagePad was the first series of personal digital assistant devices developed by Apple for the Newton platform in 1993. Some electronic engineering and the manufacture of Apple's MessagePad devices was done in Japan by the Sharp Corporation...
devices can be considered as paradigmatic because of their influence in subsequent designs, despite their commercial failure.
As Sociological paradigm, a design paradigm is the constellation of beliefs, rules, knowledge, etc that is valid for a particular design community. Here a paradigm is not a particular solution, but rather the underlying system of ideas that causes a range of solutions to be 'normal' or 'obvious'. A current example is the laptop: as of 2010 the design paradigm of laptops includes a portable computer unit consisting of a QWERTYQWERTYQWERTY is the most common modern-day keyboard layout. The name comes from the first six letters appearing in the topleft letter row of the keyboard, read left to right: Q-W-E-R-T-Y. The QWERTY design is based on a layout created for the Sholes and Glidden typewriter and sold to Remington in the...
keyboard, a hinged screen, etc. Moreover, such device is assumed to be helpful in tasks such as education as in the One Laptop per Child project.
While the first meaning of "design paradigm" refers to exemplary design solutions that create "design trends", the second meaning refers to what a group of people expects from a type of design solutions.
The term "Design paradigm" is used within the design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
professions, including architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, industrial design
Industrial design
Industrial design is the use of a combination of applied art and applied science to improve the aesthetics, ergonomics, and usability of a product, but it may also be used to improve the product's marketability and production...
and engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
design, to indicate an archetypal solution. Thus a Swiss Army Knife
Swiss Army knife
The Swiss Army knife is a brand of pocket knife or multi-tool manufactured by Victorinox AG and Wenger SA. The term "Swiss Army knife" was coined by US soldiers after World War II due to the difficulty they had in pronouncing the German name....
is a design paradigm
Paradigm (disambiguation)
Paradigm may refer to:* a Kuhnian scientific paradigm* paradigm , an experimental setup...
illustrating the concept of a single object that changes configuration to address a number of problems.
Design paradigms have been introduced in a number of books including Design Paradigms by Warren Wake, and Design Paradigms by Henry Petroski
Henry Petroski
Henry Petroski is an American engineer specializing in failure analysis. A professor both of civil engineering and history at Duke University, he is also a prolific author...
. Architect Christopher Alexander's A Pattern Language
A Pattern Language
A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction is a 1977 book on architecture, urban design, and community livability. It was authored by Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa and Murray Silverstein of the Center for Environmental Structure of Berkeley, California, with writing credits also to...
is thought to have first popularized the term.
Design paradigms can be used either to describe a design solution, or as an approach to design problem solving. Problem solving occurs through a process of abstraction and characterization of design solutions, with subsequent categorization into problem solving types. The approach is akin to the use of metaphor in language; metaphors are used to help explain concepts that are new or unfamiliar, and to bridge between a problem we understand and a problem we don't. Design paradigms then can be seen as higher order metaphors; as the often three-dimensional distillation of a working relationship between parts, between groups of things, between the known and the unknown. In this sense, a bridge is a paradigm of the connection between the known and the unknown, and the functional equivalent of a physical bridge is consequently used in many fields from computer hardware to musical composition.
The design paradigms concept has proven so powerful in traditional fields of design, that it has inspired a branch of computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
, where computational analogies to design paradigms are commonly called design patterns. Importantly however, in design professions the term "design pattern
Design pattern
A design pattern in architecture and computer science is a formal way of documenting a solution to a design problem in a particular field of expertise. The idea was introduced by the architect Christopher Alexander in the field of architecture and has been adapted for various other disciplines,...
" usually describes a 2-dimensional structure, whereas the term paradigm (or model) usually imply a higher order, having 3 or more dimensions.