ABSTRACT

Drawing from the work of Dewey, Wittgenstein and Heidegger, this book aims to relate a series of philosophic insights to the practice of engaging in design research for change.

These insights are explored and presented as a set of potential strategies for grounding transformative design research within an intellectual context which both embraces and celebrates experience, process and uncertainty. Chapter by chapter, through theory, practical examples and case studies, an accessible narrative opens up around the coupled themes of existence and experience, language and meaning and knowing and truth. The outcome is a rich and detailed perspective on the ways in which philosophy may afford design research for change a means to both explain, as well as understand, not only what it is and what it does, but also what it could be.

The book will be of interest to scholars working in design studies, design theory and design research.

chapter |13 pages

Prologue

The Entwining of Design and Dynamic Knowledge Production

chapter |42 pages

Introduction

Design Research, Philosophy and Some Radical Philosophers

chapter 1|37 pages

Positioning

Working with Context in Experience

chapter 2|31 pages

Processing

Making a World Together through Meaningful Inquiry

chapter 3|30 pages

Producing

Knowing Value