Philosophy through Design

By looking at the intersection of design practice and philosophy, Brian Dixon introduces the notion of philosophy-through-design, arguing that a philosophical approach to designing can enable us to address complex real world challenges more ethically and creatively.

Philosophy is ever-present at the edges of design. It takes shape through a multitude of design decisions around form, function, aesthetics and ethics, and finds expression (whether explicitly or implicitly) in the products, services and systems which give form to our daily lives. This book provides a robust introduction to philosophical thought in design with an array of examples, focusing on three specific thematic areas that dominate contemporary design concerns: technology, society and ecology. Key influences within include the classical pragmatists John Dewey and Jane Addams, and those who carry forward their perspective today such as Thomas Alexander and Rob Kitcher.

A chapter on technology features case studies that explore how technology shapes meaning and value, and how it calls up a number of philosophic issues relating to personhood, embodiment, positionality, consequences, agency and power. A chapter on society examines how designing can align with social values, relationships and systems, and a final chapter on the ecological explores design and the ecosystem, issues of sustainability and environmental ethics.