Design

In a university context, the term design is interpreted in very different ways. At ETH Zurich it ranges from the theoretical description of certain material properties to their experimental testing, including aircraft, robots, and the codes that control them. Design plays a major role in simulating human behavior, developing new learning and teaching systems, and planning the future of waste disposal. Indeed, one is tempted to say that the question about whether or not something qualifies as design – the issue of design or no design – ultimately comes down to the assessment of the researchers themselves.