Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of the author in writing this paper is to establish the connection between design and constructivism. To that end, it is argued that design is a necessarily constructivist activity (both in terms of the design of concepts and the design of objects and processes); and that design preceded constructivism by many millennia. Method: This argument is made through reference to concepts and developments in second order cybernetics, and an analysis of central activities that designers perform – particularly sketching and doodling, used in the manner of holding a conversation with oneself. Findings: The parallelism between design and constructivism (and second order cybernetics) is demonstrated; and a distinction between knowledge of (a situation) and knowledge for (an action) is drawn. Knowledge for is the knowledge that supports action, including the action of constructing. Original value: Design is placed at the heart of constructivist activity, validated by criteria that that are sympathetic to designing. Thus, constructivist activity is reinforced by the analysis of design activity; and design activity is reciprocally reinforced by the analysis of constructivist activity.
Key words: black Box, circularity, conversation, design, doodle and sketch, knowledge of, knowledge for, object
Citation
Glanville R. (2006) Construction and design. Constructivist Foundations 1(3): 103–110. http://constructivist.info/1/3/103
Export article citation data:
Plain Text ·
BibTex ·
EndNote ·
Reference Manager (RIS)
Similar articles
References
Glanville R. (1975) A cybernetic development of theories of epistemology and observation, with reference to space and time, as seen in architecture. Ph D Thesis, unpublished, Brunel University.
▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Glanville R. (1981) Why design research? In: Jacques R. & Powell J. Design/method/science. Westbury House, Guilford: 86–94. Originally presented at Design Research Society, Portsmouth, 1980.
▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Glanville R. (1982) Inside every white box there are two black boxes trying to get out. Behavioural Science 12(1): 1–11. Originally presented at Conference of the Cybernetics Society, London, 1979.
▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Glanville R. (1998) A (cybernetic) musing: The gestation of second order cybernetics 1968–1975: A Personal Account. Cybernetics and Human Knowing 5(2): 85–95.
▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Glanville R. (2005) A (cybernetic) musing: Certain propositions concerning prepositions. Cybernetics and Human Knowing 12(3): 87–95.
▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Glanville R. (2005) Appropriate theory. Proceedings of FutureGround conference of the Design Research Society. Monash University: Melbourne. Published on CDROM.
▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Glanville R. (in press), Design prepositions. Keynote lecture at the conference The Unthinkable Doctorate, Brussels, April 2005. To be published in the proceedings.
▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Glasersfeld E. von (1990) An exposition of constructivism: Why some like it radical. In: Davis R., Maher C. & Noddings N. (eds.) Constructivist views on the teaching and learning of mathematics. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics: Reston VA. Reprinted in: Klir G. (ed.) (1991) Facets of systems science. Plenum Press. New York: 229–238.
http://www.vonglasersfeld.com/127
Pias C. (ed.) (2003) Cybernetics – Kybernetik: The Macy conferences 1946–1953. Diaphanes: Zürich/Berlin.
▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Saussure F. de (1966) Course in general linguistics. McGraw Hill, New York.
▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Schön, D. (1985) The design studio: An exploration of its traditions and potentials. RIBA Publications for RIBA Building Industry Trust, London.
▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Scott B. (2001) Conversation theory: A constructivist, dialogical approach to educational technology. Cybernetics & Human Knowing 8(4): 25–46.
▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Wootton H. (1968) The elements of architecture: A facsimile reprint of the first edition. Shakespeare Library by the University Press of Virginia: Charlottesville. Original work published 1624.
▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Comments: 0
To stay informed about comments to this publication and post comments yourself, please log in first.
