Design Dictionary (board Of International Research In Design)

Design Dictionary Board of International Research in Design, BIRD Members: Klaus Thomas Edelmann Michael Erlhoff Simon Grand Wolfgang Jonas Ralf Michel Beat Schneider Michael Erlhoff Tim Marshall (Eds.) Design Dictionary Perspectives on Design Terminology Birkhäuser Basel · Boston · Berlin The cover design was realised using effect pigment Iriodin 123 Bright Luster Satin produced by Merck KGaA. Design Concept BIRD: Christian Riis Ruggaber, Formal Satz: Bertschi & Messmer AG, Basel Typefaces: Akkurat, Arnhem Editorial assistance: Angela Marshall, Jen Rhee Copy editing: Ingrid Bell Translation from German into English: Laura Bruce, Steven Lindberg Library of Congress Control Number: 2007939897 Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data are available on the Internet at http://dnb.ddb.de. This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, re-use of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in other ways, and storage in data bases. For any kind of use, permission of the copyright owner must be obtained.  2008 Birkhäuser Verlag AG Basel · Boston · Berlin P.O. Box 133, CH-4010 Basel, Switzerland Part of Springer Science+Business Media Also available: German edition (ISBN: 978-3-7643-7738-0) Printed on acid-free paper produced from chlorine-free pulp. TCF ¥ Printed in Germany ISBN: 978-3-7643-7739-7 987654321 www.birkhauser.ch Foreword BIRD The understanding of design in general and the structure of scientific research in design inevitably leads to discussions of the central categories for design. Constructive debate and struggles for acceptance fuel such a process—a process that, as a sign of fruitful further refinement, can never be completely finished. It is well known that such a development, especially in design, cannot be addressed without obstacles and indeed dissent. Even within a single cultural or linguistic realm, the positions are supposedly irreconcilable. Any undertaking that attempts to create understanding across cultural and linguistic borders is that much more ambitious. It is, after all, one of the principles of BIRD’s work to promote understanding of important design categories and concepts internationally. The publication of a categorical dictionary thus naturally suggested itself. The members of BIRD agree that there can be different approaches to such a project; no approach, description, or explanation will remain undisputed. And just as there can be no unambiguous and conclusive definition of terms like “design research,” for example—because, very much in keeping with the essence of design and by all means indebted to different approaches to explanation, they are constantly transforming—a dictionary of design can be no more, and no less, than the beginning of a process of understanding. The Design Dictionary that Michael Erlhoff and Tim Marshall have compiled, which is being published simultaneously in German and English, is an important step in this context. The editors have managed to attract to their project authors from all over the world who have presented their contributions from a variety of perspectives and with an excellent grasp of their subjects that will enrich the discussion of design terms. We are expecting it to provoke contradiction—and indeed we desire that. Both the members of BIRD and the editors will welcome that in the spirit of enlivening the discussion. Through its various publications, BIRD presents important positions in the context of design research. The Design Dictionary belongs to a series of publications of important reference works in books and a