How Designers Think
The Design Process Demystified
4th Edition
Published on 14. October 2005
Book
Paperback/Softback
334 pages
978-0-7506-6077-8 (ISBN)
Description
How Designers Think is based on Bryan Lawson's many observations of designers at work, interviews with designers and their clients and collaborators. This extended work is the culmination of forty years' research and shows the belief that we all can, and do, design, and that we can learn to design better. The creative mind continues to have the power to surprise and this book aims to nurture and extend this creativity. Neither the earlier editions, nor this book, are intended as authoritative prescriptions of how designers should think but provide helpful advice on how to develop an understanding of design.
In this fourth edition, Bryan Lawson continues to try and understand how designers think, to explore how they might be better educated and to develop techniques to assist them in their task. Some chapters have been revised and three completely new chapters added. The book is now intended to be read in conjunction with What Designers Know which is a companion volume. Some of the ideas previously discussed in the third edition of How Designers Think are now explored more thoroughly in What Designers Know. For the first time this fourth edition works towards a model of designing and the skills that collectively constitute the design process.
In this fourth edition, Bryan Lawson continues to try and understand how designers think, to explore how they might be better educated and to develop techniques to assist them in their task. Some chapters have been revised and three completely new chapters added. The book is now intended to be read in conjunction with What Designers Know which is a companion volume. Some of the ideas previously discussed in the third edition of How Designers Think are now explored more thoroughly in What Designers Know. For the first time this fourth edition works towards a model of designing and the skills that collectively constitute the design process.
Reviews / Votes
'An extremely readable book, due in part to the soundbite-sized chapters'Architects Journal, 19.01.06
"There is no set path to beautiful design, and as designers we are always moving forward, looking for the next problem to solve. Lawson reminds us, however, that taking the time to engage the issues comprehensively leads to more well-rounded, and ultimately better finished products. As such, developing a solid set of foundation skills and methods are of the utmost importance, permeating into other work and yielding stronger results." - Jeremy Senko, Spacing Magazine
Reviews of previous editions:
'It has a great virtue of being thorough and readable... excellent bibliography.'
Built Environment
'This book makes a valuable, if individualistic contribution to the literature of design theory.'
Science and Technology Press
'The author succeeds in demystifying his subject for the lay reader.'
New Scientist
'The chapters are well written in a readable form and packed full of data undeniably valuable to students.'
ASI Journal
'Its success is well deserved, because it is clearly written, the arguments are logically presented, and the design process is indeed demystified.'
Architectural Science Review
More details
Edition
4th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Professional Practice & Development
Dimensions
Height: 246 mm
Width: 189 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
648 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7506-6077-8 (9780750660778)
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
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
07/2017
4th Edition
Routledge
€267.41
Shipment within 10-20 days
Previous edition
Bryan Lawson
How Designers Think
Book
11/1997
3rd Edition
Architectural Press
€28.46
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Bryan Lawson is a Professor of Architecture at the University of Sheffield. He is however both an architect and a psychologist, which has enabled him to study the nature of the design process.
Content
Part 1 What Is Design?; Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 The Changing Role of the Designer; Chapter 3 Route Maps of the Design Process; Part 2 Problems and Solutions; Chapter 4 The Components of Design Problems; Chapter 5 Measurement, Criteria and Judgement in Design; Chapter 6 A Model of Design Problems; Chapter 7 Problems, Solutions and the Design Process; Part 3 Design Thinking; Chapter 8 Types and Styles of Thinking; Chapter 9 Creative Thinking; Chapter 10 Guiding Principles; Chapter 11 Design Strategies; Chapter 12 Design Tactics; Chapter 13 Design Traps; Chapter 14 Designing with Others; Chapter 15 Design as Conversation and Perception; Chapter 16 Towards a Model of Designing;