Design Methods and Thoughts in Contemporary Context

〈當代脈絡中的創作方法與思維〉

--

Wei-Li Wong

Master Program, Department of Industrial Design, Shih Chien University

Cheng-Neng Kuan

Honorary Chair Professor, Department of Industrial Design, Shih Chien University

Abstract

Modern society is more diverse and complex every day. Arguments can be rapidly made in almost any kind of discussion when consensus is an urge to achieve. Under the pressure of cost reduction, the process in the production system is speeding up to extract more value, and the products are losing their contexts. For achieving the consensus in a shorter time, 'execution' and 'discussion', which used to be independent of each other, are now merged as one single phase, the synchronous collaboration. With the observation of modern society, 'Explicitation' is introduced as an advanced method in the design process. Tangible objects, tools, and documentation are needed as pieces of evidence when it comes to the need for a collaborative project. 'Machines' and 'documents' are proposed as design features that are the tools for producing projects that communicate and create the framework for potential collaboration. Furthermore, several design projects are raised as proofs, describing the function of Explicitation, which is 'Contextualization'. Contextualization affects in two directions. It constructs the context in the created products, and it provides a clearer way of understanding as well. In other words, the same path that designers create the design is also a way for being understanding. Therefore, in a complex and fast-moving society, Explicitation is a better strategy in design communication-wise. In the end, four suggestions are made on both levels which are 'the level of personal creation' and 'the level of management'. The goal is to shift the focus of design development from seeking individual creativity to the establishment of group context and as the basis for the development of 'group progressiveness'.

--

翁偉力

實踐大學工業產品設計學系 碩士

官政能

實踐大學工業產品設計學系 榮譽講座教授

摘要

當代的個體背景多樣且複雜，對事物的看法有著更多的角度，「尋求共識」成為真切的需求。生產體系為求壓低製造成本，生產流程被迫加速，設計的脈絡與其意義逐漸脫離。為在更短時間內於生產體系中尋得共識，「即時同步協作」取代原本互為獨立的「執行」與「討論」階段。依據當代背景觀察，於設計創作領域中提出「外顯化」做為對應之創作方法。強調設計過程應以證據為基礎，將腦中所思外顯化成為文件與實體物件。並以「記錄」和「機器」二例為藍本，提出相關設計案例作為例證，指出「記錄」與「機器」可使創作表現出特殊的概念性與藝術性。此類創作除在面對觀者時具有更良好的說明性，也具有更易與他領域創作者展開協作的架構。其次，針對「外顯化」之功能──脈絡化──的兩種作用方向進行說明。提出案例指出執行外顯化過程的創作具有兩項於當代背景中最重要的能力：其一，將創作脈絡建構於成品的能力。其二，能提供觀者理解作品脈絡途徑的能力。創作的脈絡即是他人進行理解的脈絡，在複雜且快速的當代背景之中，透過「外顯化」享有「脈絡化」的能力，是一種更易於讓他人理解的溝通策略選擇。最後，嘗試將外顯化及其脈絡化之作用推至實踐階段，分為「個人創作層級」與「組織管理層級」兩部分，各提出四項概要作為初步目標。意圖將設計發展焦點從個人創作性之追尋推移至群體脈絡的建立上；將眾人創作知識長期性地管理，作為「群體的進步性」之探究基礎。

實踐設計學報 [ Praxes ] 第十五期

2021 Design Journal Shih Chien University No.15