Dimensions of Thinking, Reflecting and Knowing Through Design

Design is defined by complexity, in both its practical and theoretical applications, and positioned to address the developmental, situational, technological and societal challenges of the external world. The study and practice of design requires ways to select, frame, understand, address, and tackle the increasingly complex systems and contexts of design. This emphasizes the intangible attributes of design residing in thinking, reflecting, and knowing. Design capabilities have evolved with the development and engagement of various tools and frameworks to produce deeper reflections, meaningful contributions, and discourses of design. This chapter reviews the parameters of thinking-in-design, the reflective activities leading towards the design-of-practice, and the actions and applications resulting from knowledge-through-design. The shift of design, from traditional practice to systems-based thinking approaches, is further discussed against the dimensions of thinking, reflecting, and knowing in design.