Skip to main content
Log in

An Exploration of the Role Values Plays in Design Decision-Making

  • Published:
International Journal of Technology and Design Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The paper explores the role of values in design decision-making through the eyes of key authors and a pilot study. ‘Knowing that’ and ‘knowing how’ in designing are reviewed and the problematic distinctions between ‘know how’; and skill noted. The effect of values on design decision-making is discussed and examples from the pilot study are presented together with a new categorisation strategy for values in design decision-making.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ashby, M. & Johnson, K.: 2003, Materials and Design: The Art and Science of Material Selection in Product Design, Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford.

  • Author unknown: 2003, ‘Revealed: the hidden benefits of plastic bottle recyling’, in Recycling Plastics News, Spring 2003, Recoup, pp. 1-2.

  • J. Cagan C. M. Vogel (2002) Creating Breakthrough Products: Innovation from Product Planning to Program Approval Prentice Hall PTR Upper Saddle River, NJ

    Google Scholar 

  • Centre for Alternative Technology, http://www.cat.org.ukaccessed 30/6/2003.

  • Cooper, T.: 2003,‘Durable consumption: reflections on product life cycles and the throwaway society’, in T. Cooper (ed.), Product Life and the Throwaway Society, Centre for Sustainable Consumption, Sheffield Hallam University.

  • Cross, N.: 1982, ‘Designerly ways of knowing’ in Design Studies, Vol. 3 No. 4 October, Butterworth and Co Ltd, pp. 221-227.

  • J. Daley (1982) Design creativity and the understanding of objects N. Cross (Eds) (1984) Developments in Design Methodology John Wiley and Sons Chichester 291–302

    Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta, S.: 1996, Technology and Creatavity, Oxford University Press, NewYork.

  • De Vries. M. J.: 2003, ‘The nature of technological knowledge: philosophical reflections and educational consequences’ in Patt-13: International Conference on Design and Technology Education Research, University of Glasgow, pp. 83-86.

  • Dorst, K.: 2003, ‘Exploring the structure of design problems’, in Research for practice: Innovation in Products Processes and Organisations, Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Engineering Design ICED, Stockhholm, August 19th-21st, 2003.

  • S. Goonatilake (1984) Aborted Discovery: Science and Creativity in the Third World Zed Books London

    Google Scholar 

  • Heath, D.: 1995, ‘Recycling plastic and rubber’, in New Designer Vol. 1 Issue 1, pp. 28-30.

  • Hicks, G. et al.: 1982, Understanding Design and Technology, Assessment of Performance Unit.

  • ITDG, http://www.itdg.org/html/education/sda.htm, accessed 30/06/2003.

  • Keirl, S. and Mclaren, S.: 2003, ‘Values in Design and Technology curriculum – a comparative analysis of two curricula, in J. Dakers and M. J. de Vries (eds), Patt-13: International Conference on Design and Technology Education Research 2003, University of Glasgow, pp. 165–169.

  • Layton, D.: 1992, Values and Design and Technology – Design Curriculum Matters: 2, Department of Design and Technology, Loughborough University of Technology.

  • Layton, D.: 1993, ‘Science education and praxis: the relationship of school science to practical action’ in R. McKormick, C. Newey & J. Sparkes (eds), Technology for Technology Education, The Open University, Milton Keynes, pp. 11–23.

  • Loughborough University, http://www.lboro.ac.uk, accessed 30/6/2003.

  • Martin, M.: 2003 ‘Significance of sustainability issues for design and technology education: rhetoric, reality and resources’, in J. Dakers & M. J. de Vries (eds), Patt-13: International Conference on Design and Technology Education Research 2003, University of Glasgow, pp. 165–169

  • Middleton, H.: 2003, ‘Some new ideas on new ideas: Creative, inventive thinking, values and Design and Technology Education’, in J. Dakers & M. J. de Vries (eds), Patt-13: International Conference on Design and Technology Education Research 2003, University of Glasgow, pp. 165–169.

  • J. Naughton D. Walker (1982) Design method and scientific method R. Jaques J. Powell (Eds) Design: Science: Method Westbury House Gilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norman, E.: 1998, ‘The nature of technology for design’, International Journal of Technology and Design Education 8, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands, pp. 67–87.

  • Oxberry E (1995) ‘Problems with waste’, in New Designer Vol. 1 Issue 1, pp. 28–30.

  • Pedgley, O. F.: 1999, PhD thesis, Industrial Designers Attention to Materials and Manufacturing Processes: Analyses at Macroscopic and Microscopic Level, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK.

  • Polanyi, M.: 1962, ‘Tacit knowing: Its bearing on some problems of philosophy’ in Reviews of modern Physics, Vol. 34 No. 4, pp. 601–616.

  • Recoup, http://www.recoup.org.uk, accessed 30/06/2003.

  • P. Roberts (1993) The Royal College of Art Schools Technology Project, Project Paper – The Purposes of Design and Technology in Education Royal College of Art London

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, P., Archer, B. & Baynes, K.: 1992, Modelling: The Language of Designing – Design: Occasional Paper No. 1, Department of Design and Technology, Loughborough University of Technology.

  • Rodgers, P. A. & Clarkson, P. J.: 1998, ‘Knowledge usage in new product development (NPD)’ in IDATER98, Department of Design and Technology, Loughborough University, pp. 252–259.

  • Ryle, G.: 1948, The Concept of Mind, Hutchinson, London.

  • Shrum, L.J. & McCarty, J.A.: 1997, ‘Issues involving the relationship between personal values and consumer behaviour: theory, methedology, and application,’ in L. Kahle & L. Chiagouris (eds.), Values Lifestyles and Psychrographics, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, New Jersey.

  • Smile Plastics, http://www.smile-plastics.co.uk, accessed 30/06/2003.

  • W. G. Vincenti (1990) What Engineers Know and How they Know it John Hopkins University Press Baltimore and London

    Google Scholar 

  • Yemhart Plastics, http://www.yemhart.com, accessed 30/06/2003.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rhoda Coles.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Coles, R., Norman, E. An Exploration of the Role Values Plays in Design Decision-Making. Int J Technol Des Educ 15, 155–171 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-005-8274-4

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-005-8274-4

Keywords

Navigation