
Philosophy through Design
Rethinking Design Practice for a Changing World
Brian Dixon(Author)
Bloomsbury Visual Arts (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 19. February 2026
Book
Hardback
264 pages
978-1-350-42339-8 (ISBN)
Description
Philosophy through Design proposes a new approach to design practice grounded in a philosophical reflection in and on action, with alignments being drawn to the democratic pragmatism of John Dewey and Jane Addams as well as key contemporary philosophic perspectives. Throughout, Dixon stresses the need for designers to engage critically, ethically and reflectively as they seek to meet the complex challenges of the 21st century. The key argument is that design practice can itself become a mode of philosophical inquiry, supporting designers' efforts to experiment, reflect and act responsibly and make and remake the ever-evolving future as potential 'designer philosophers'.
Reviews / Votes
Philosophy through Design creates a bold proposal for designer philosophers who bring design and philosophy together to address existential concerns we are facing today. In his tour de force, BrianDixon develops this urgently needed character through a study of design, pragmatism, feminism and eco-philosophy. * Ilpo Koskinen, Professor of Design, University of New South Wales, Australia * An essential read for anyone wanting to activate philosophy and close the gap between design practitioners and academics. * Danielle Lake, Director of Design Thinking and Associate Professor of Human Service Studies, Elon University, USA * Some design practice has re-oriented to address today's urgent problems, their histories and their futures. But alongside this busy doing, new thinking is needed. This book contributes to that by charting a course for scholarship and practice in philosophy through design. * Lucy Kimbell, Professor of Contemporary Design Practices, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, UK *
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
With dust jacket
Illustrations
4 bw images
Dimensions
Height: 200 mm
Width: 132 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
408 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-350-42339-8 (9781350423398)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Brian Dixon, a practicing designer researcher, is Head of Belfast School of Art at Ulster University, UK. His previous books include Dewey and Design (2020) and Philosophy and Making Things Happen (2023).
Content
List of Figures
Acknowledgements
Preface
Introduction: From Philosophy in Design to Philosophy through Design
1. Connecting Design and Philosophy through Dewey and Addams
2. The Technological Horizon: Digital Ontologizing
3. The Social Horizon: Association in Experience
4. The Ecological Horizon: Connecting Everything
5. Philosophy through Design: A Starting Point
References
Index
Acknowledgements
Preface
Introduction: From Philosophy in Design to Philosophy through Design
1. Connecting Design and Philosophy through Dewey and Addams
2. The Technological Horizon: Digital Ontologizing
3. The Social Horizon: Association in Experience
4. The Ecological Horizon: Connecting Everything
5. Philosophy through Design: A Starting Point
References
Index