Theories and Models of Design: A Summary of Findings

Abstract

This chapter introduces the goals of the book and provides a historic overview of theoretical developments in design. The main focus of the chapter is an attempt to answer the three main questions addressed in this book: (1) What is a theory or model of design? What is its purpose: what should it describe, explain or predict? (2) What are the criteria it must satisfy to be considered a design theory or model? (3) How should a theory or model of design be evaluated or validated?. The answers are derived from the contributions of the various authors in this book and from the results of the International Workshop on Models and Theories of Design that gave rise to this book. Taken together, the contributions and the workshop outcomes showcase the rich but varied tapestry of thoughts, concepts and results. At the same time, they highlight the effort still required to establish a sound, generally accepted theoretical and empirical basis for further research into design.