How Designers Think: The Design Process Demystified - Softcover

Lawson, Bryan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0750660775 ISBN 13: 9780750660778

Publisher: Routledge, 2005

Synopsis

How Designers Think is based on Bryan Lawson's many observations of designers at work, interviews with designers and their clients and collaborators. This extended work is the culmination of forty years' research and shows the belief that we all can, and do, design, and that we can learn to design better. The creative mind continues to have the power to surprise and this book aims to nurture and extend this creativity. Neither the earlier editions, nor this book, are intended as authoritative prescriptions of how designers should think but provide helpful advice on how to develop an understanding of design.

In this fourth edition, Bryan Lawson continues to try and understand how designers think, to explore how they might be better educated and to develop techniques to assist them in their task. Some chapters have been revised and three completely new chapters added. The book is now intended to be read in conjunction with What Designers Know which is a companion volume. Some of the ideas previously discussed in the third edition of How Designers Think are now explored more thoroughly in What Designers Know. For the first time this fourth edition works towards a model of designing and the skills that collectively constitute the design process.

About this title

Product Description

In this fourth edition, Bryan Lawson continues his discussion, trying to understand how designers think. He does this by mapping out the issues concerned with the design process, with design problems and solutions and design thinking. This edition adds to the previous debates by including a new chapter on 'Design as Conversation' reflecting on how designers, either consciously or unconsciously, monitor, reflect on, control and change their thinking. It also includes a new series of case studies on notable designers including the racing car designer Gordon Murray, product designer James Dyson, and architects such as Edward Cullinan and Glenn Murcott. * A unique look at the psychology of the designer that provides a greater insight to the process of design * 'Demystifies' the complexity of the subject and uncovers new ways that design can be done * Conclusions are drawn from years of research and provide the very latest debate on the subject

Review

'An extremely readable book, due in part to the soundbite-sized chapters'
Architects Journal, 19.01.06

"There is no set path to beautiful design, and as designers we are always moving forward, looking for the next problem to solve. Lawson reminds us, however, that taking the time to engage the issues comprehensively leads to more well-rounded, and ultimately better finished products. As such, developing a solid set of foundation skills and methods are of the utmost importance, permeating into other work and yielding stronger results." ― Jeremy Senko, Spacing Magazine

Reviews of previous editions:
'It has a great virtue of being thorough and readable... excellent bibliography.'
Built Environment
'This book makes a valuable, if individualistic contribution to the literature of design theory.'
Science and Technology Press
'The author succeeds in demystifying his subject for the lay reader.'
New Scientist
'The chapters are well written in a readable form and packed full of data undeniably valuable to students.'
ASI Journal
'Its success is well deserved, because it is clearly written, the arguments are logically presented, and the design process is indeed demystified.'
Architectural Science Review

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0750660775
• ISBN 13: 9780750660778
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 4
• Number of pages: 334