设计科学:从规范性到描述性

Design science: From normative towards descriptions

论述了目前关于设计科学的不同观点,探讨了重要设计理论的特点。分析表明,目前设计理论集中在应当如何做而缺乏对客观规律的探索。设计科学不仅是采用科学的方法研究设计,而且作为一门科学,设计科学应具备科学的一般属性,即探索客观规律和发展描述性理论。描述性设计理论可为设计理论和方法提供依据,为提高设计效率和设计质量提供指导。

The design is both an art and a science. The design science focuses on the science part of the design, including the studies of the designers and the interaction between the people and the created artifacts in the society, and the studies of the structures and their behaviors. There is no clear boundary between these two domains, and the Science is what they share. The design as a science should follow the scientific research paradigm and investigate design laws with descriptive theories. The current design research tends to provide normative methods, which can work in certain cases but cannot be extended to general design cases. Normative methods prescribe what the designers OUGHT to do, while descriptive theories tell us what IS behind the design practices. The normative methods can work in certain cases but not in general cases. They are necessary for the design because the design is a goal-oriented activity. However, only after we understand what IS behind the different design practices can we construct effective design methods to guide better design. In the case of computer design systems, the normative methods lead to the design automation, but only descriptive theories can pave the way to the autonomous design or the partially autonomous design.