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Published in: International Journal of Technology and Design Education 2/2011

01-05-2011

Designer stories: a commentary on the community of design practice

Author: A. A. Mc Glashan

Published in: International Journal of Technology and Design Education | Issue 2/2011

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Abstract

This research explores the design practice of three prominent New Zealand designers. It seeks to identify the key elements and methodologies they employ and to answer the research question: How do designers design? The need to gain understanding on how designers work, gave me occasion to visit and speak with designers about their approach to design. To look inside a designer’s practice has left me with an overriding impression that these designers know and trust their own way of working, they do not map their thoughts onto a pre-existing process; rather, each new work dictates its own direction. Their understanding has come about through a wealth of design experiences, a way of seeing, and perceptive reflection-in-action.

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Footnotes
1
Heuristics is a qualitative method of solving a problem for which no formula exists. It uses informal methods or experience, and employs forms of trial and error. Heuristics relates to the ability to find knowledge, patterns or a desired result by intelligent questioning and guess work rather than applying a pre-established formula. A heuristic methodology often involves using knowledge gained by experience. This methodology involves the development and testing of a body of work through rigorous and diverse methods of questioning.
 
2
The Treaty of Waitangi—An agreement between the British Crown and 540 rangatira (chiefs) in 1840 was signed as a form of constitution. In the words of Lieutenant Governor William Hobson, after the signing of the Treaty, “He Iwi Tahi Tatou”—We are now one people.
 
3
Puriri—(Verbenaceea—Vitex lucens) is a native tree only found in New Zealand. It can grow up to 20 m tall up to 20 m tall, with a trunk commonly up to 1.5 m in diameter, frequently thicker, and a broad spreading crown. Puriri has dark green glossy leaves and tubular flowers that can range from fluorescent pink to dark red in colour.
 
4
Pakeha—Term given by Maori for stranger, non-Maori, European and Caucasian.
 
5
Whakapapa—Maori word for cultural identity, lineage.
 
6
According to Scrivener (2000), the term reflexivity is the name employed in qualitative research to describe the cyclic process whereby the way we describe a phenomenon changes the way it operates for us, which in turn changes our perception, which changes our description of it, and so on.
 
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Metadata
Title
Designer stories: a commentary on the community of design practice
Author
A. A. Mc Glashan
Publication date
01-05-2011
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
International Journal of Technology and Design Education / Issue 2/2011
Print ISSN: 0957-7572
Electronic ISSN: 1573-1804
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-010-9116-6

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