Design Studies

Design Studies is an international journal that publishes a select range of articles from submissions from all over the world, 4 to 5 times a year. It is a multi-disciplinary journal that is almost exclusively written by and for those operating in fields of design and design education. The journal in feel has more in common with AA Files rather than Majalah Arkitek, although is even more academic in feel than even that which can be somewhat intimidating to young designers in training and those not working in design fields. Consequently it has a very formal feel and articles are serious and in depth.

Many of the articles in Design Studies come across as exploring the science of design. They analyse design conception, generation, education and concepts, rather than exploring current or finished design from the point of pure aesthetics and/or function. This scientific approach can also be seen in the use of imagery – used only to illustrate points covered in the journal and in many cases substituted for diagrams which express complex ideas. Lists of key words following the abstract/introduction to an article are an obvious attempt to easy understanding of complex ideas presented in quite a complex way.

However even science in its analysis of design can never fully remove itself from prominent designers, with some articles – especially those on architecture having an architect(s) and their work as a point of reference. Notable architects such as Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid find themselves and their work mentioned as part of design analysis.

In its own words:
Design Studies is the only journal to approach the understanding of design from comparisons across all domains of application, including engineering and product design, architectural design and planning, computer artefacts and systems design. It therefore provides a unique forum for the development and discussion of fundamental aspects of design activity and experience, from cognition and methodology to values and philosophy. The journal reports new research and scholarship in principles, procedures and techniques relevant to the practice, management and pedagogy of design.

Links to my design:
- The formality of the journal’s own stylistic layout and of the academic content itself has lead to my office’s formality in the entrance area leading up to the work area.
- The journal’s criticism of modernism and promotion of juxtaposing post-modernist forms such as Frank Gehry influenced the shape of the “cave” and its juxtaposition against the rest of the forms.
- Idea of integration between different fields of design, particularly architecture and interior design, influenced how I thought about the project - considering the inside while still constructing the exterior, and more structural forms.
- The generation of ideas in formed how I went through the design process – rather than exploring multiple ideas, exploring one idea and developing it.