Design by Use (eBook)

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Uta Brandes is a professor of design research and gender and design at the Cologne International School of Design (KISD).

Uta Brandes ist Professorin für Design-Forschung und für Gender und Design an der Köln International School of Design (KISD)

Foreword BIRD 4
Fluid Design & Research
Design as Research Paradigm 7
Design as a Transitory Discipline 8
The Things in Design 9
The Production of Things Through Use 10
Relevance in Relation to Research 14
Explorations 15
A View of Other Disciplines 17
Use and Redefinitions of Use in Literature 19
A Synopsis of Design History from the Perspective of Use 19
The Cultural History of Object Use 20
Design Publications 23
Use and Usefulness in Sociology 25
Related Strategies of Discovery 27
Art and Literature 29
Architecture 30
Science 31
Intentional Re-Design 33
Design as a Manifesto 35
Scarcity Societies 41
German Democratic Republic (GDR): Instructions for DIY 42
The Post-War Period: Turning Steel Helmets into Chamber Pots 43
“Third World”: Recycling the Waste of the Rich 44
Ecological Design 45
Deliberate Abandonment of Products 48
Commercialization 49
DIYers and Hobbyists 49
Strategies of Appropriation 50
Non-Intentional Design from an Empiricist Perspective 53
Contradictions in the Object: Design Intention and Use 55
Form and Function as Characteristics of Use 55
Dealing with Meaning 56
Everyday Use – Design Intention 58
The Privacy of Home 60
Public Space 74
New Media 89
The Personal Computer 89
NID in the Area of Computer Software – Example: Internet 96
The Subjects: Objects of, and Reasons for, Repurposing 103
Methodology 105
The Sample 106
Spaces and Rooms 108
Gender Comparison of Instances of Repurposing by Room or Space 108
Repurposed Objects 112
Gender Comparison of Instances of Repurposing 112
Personal NIDs and Favourite NIDs 115
Reasons for Repurposing 115
Preferences 115
Gender Comparison of Reasons for Repurposing 116
Exemplary Target Group Differentiation: Nationality, Profession, Age 117
Example: Nationality 117
Example: Profession 117
Example: Age Group 118
The Objects 121
Simple Things 124
Cheap Products and Disposable Products 126
Multifunctional Products 132
Media Products 135
Radio and Television 136
The Car 138
Architectural Elements: Walls, Floors, Stairs 142
The Wall: Noticeboard and Supporting Structure 142
The Floor: Interior and Exterior Seating Alternative 144
The Stairs: A Place for Sitting, Playing, and Sports 144
The Process of Discovery 147
Product Characteristics: Form, Material, Value, and Availability 149
The Time Factor: Finding a Solution and Permanent Changes of Use 150
Reversibility: Returning to the Original State 151
An Example: Rain Protection without Umbrellas 152
Personality: Pro or Contra Types 154
Non-intentional Design in Public Spaces 155
Designed Environments 157
Urban Passengers 158
Objects in Public Spaces 158
Private Objects and Communal Goods 159
Repurposing: Sitting, Informing, Securing 160
Sitting 160
Providing Information 164
Securing Bicycles 166
Constructive and Destructive Repurposing 168
Appropriation 168
Self-Determination 170
Public Man - Private Woman? 171
Design between Subject and Object 175
The Beautiful and the Good according to Plato 177
From Idea to Object: Design 178
From Object to Idea: Non-Intentional Design 180
Design as Applied Philosophy 181
What’s in a Name 183
Authority of Design - Autonomy in Use 184
Non-Intentional Design as a Basis for an Open Design Approach 184
Bibliography 186
The Authors 190
Picture Credits 191