Design and Human Satisfaction

Abstract

By whichever route most engineers reach the point of designing products for human use and convenience, they acquire no more understanding of people and society than their own personal experiences and powers of observation permit. With respect to engineering designers, as indeed to other types of designer, both of these abilities may be limited. For the engineering designer the limitation may be especially severe. Technological development has forced him to concentrate upon increasingly complex technical problems. Consequently his professional education is heavily biased towards techniques. Indeed, for many engineers the design of engineering products is largely interpreted as a process of producing technical solutions. This task is not, of course, to be underestimated. It would be entirely wrong to suggest that engineers should gain a greater understanding of people and society at the expense of acquiring technical expertise. Such expertise is needed to an increasing extent But if it is to be properly utilized then a fuller knowledge of the users of more advanced products and how these products will affect society becomes more necessary.

‘An engineer is one who directs the great sources of power in nature for the use and convenience of men.’

Thomas Tredgold