Synthetica: Synthesis on Design

This chapter, excerpted from "Vita delle forme," explores the intricate relationship between form and matter in art. The author argues against the traditional separation of spirit and matter, demonstrating how artistic form is inextricably linked to the material used and the techniques employed. Different materials possess unique "formal vocations," influencing and being modified by artistic proce...

This chapter “Forms in space” from “Vita delle forme” (Focillon, 1990) explores the multifaceted relationship between form and space across various artistic mediums. It examines how artists manipulate space—creating, defining, and even destroying it—in ornament, architecture, sculpture, and painting. The author analyzes how different spatial treatments, from the rigid geometry of perspective to th...

The chapter “The world of forms” from “Vita delle forme” (Focillon, 1990) explores the multifaceted nature of artistic form, arguing that artwork is simultaneously singular and relational, independent yet bound to its cultural context. The author examines how form transcends mere representation, becoming a vehicle for meaning and the generator of new meanings. This process, the author contends, is...

The final chapter of “The Logic of Information” Floridi (2019), outlines a new 'logic of design' as a conceptual logic of information, arguing that existing logics (Kant's transcendental logic and Hegel's dialectical logic) are inadequate for understanding design as a constructive process. The author proposes a 'logic of requirements' and the concept of 'sufficiency' to describe the relationship b...

In these three chapters, 7, 8 and 9, Floridi (2019) explores the philosophy of information, focusing on the principle of information closure and its implications for modal logic. The author defends information closure against sceptical objections, arguing that its rejection unnecessarily restricts the formalisation of information logic. The text also examines formal logical fallacies and proposes...

In the sixth chapter of "The Logic of Information" Floridi (2019) explores information scepticism, examining its historical development and offering a novel analysis using Borel numbers and Hamming distances as tools. The author distinguishes between radical and moderate scepticism, arguing that radical scepticism is ultimately redundant and harmless, while moderate scepticism is useful for refini...

Chapters four and five of 'The logic of information' by Floridi (2019) explore the relationship between information and knowledge, arguing that knowledge is 'accounted information' - information that is well formed, meaningful, true and explained within a network of relations. The text examines perception and testimony as data providers, rather than knowledge itself, and proposes a constructionist...

This article from Philosophy & Technology argues that the current excitement surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) constitutes a tech bubble, similar to previous historical examples like the dot-com and cryptocurrency booms. The author analyzes the characteristics of tech bubbles, highlighting speculative investment, inflated valuations, and insufficient regulation as key features. Several past...

This excerpt from Bruno Latour's 1990 paper, later published in English in 1996, explains Actor-Network Theory (ANT). ANT challenges traditional social theory by rejecting the separation of nature, society, and discourse, arguing that all entities—human and non-human—are interconnected in networks. The theory uses the metaphor of networks to analyze the relationships and interactions between these...

This paper and its commentary explore DesignX, a framework for addressing complex sociotechnical systems. The authors argue that implementation, not initial design, presents the greatest challenge, due to factors like human cognitive biases, conflicting stakeholder perspectives, and political constraints. They propose an incremental, modular approach—"muddling through"—as a more effective strategy...

Walter Benjamin's "A Short History of Photography" analyzes the evolution of photography, contrasting its early, auratic phase—characterized by long exposure times and a resulting sense of stillness and mystery in portraits—with the later, industrialized era dominated by snapshots and commercial interests. He highlights key photographers like Hill and Atget, emphasizing the interplay between techn...

Herbert Simon's 1962 paper, "The Architecture of Complexity," explores the prevalence and implications of hierarchical structures in complex systems across diverse fields. The paper argues that hierarchical organization facilitates the rapid evolution of complex systems by providing stable intermediate forms. Simon introduces the concept of "near decomposability," where interactions within subsyst...

This 2002 paper by Cornelis Baljon explores the relationship between design history and current design practice. Baljon critiques various approaches to design history, rejecting the simplistic "pattern book" view and the overly theoretical approaches that neglect the practical concerns of designers. He advocates for a value-driven approach to design history, informed by philosophy, emphasizing the...

This paper examines critical design, a research methodology using design to critique societal norms and values. The authors critique the existing understanding of critical design as articulated by Dunne and Raby, finding it too vague and limited. They propose a broader framework for understanding "criticality" by drawing upon critical theory and metacriticism, offering a more practical and accessi...

These texts from Norman (2011) explore the design of user experiences, focusing on managing complexity. The first text examines the psychology of waiting lines, proposing six design principles to improve user experience during unavoidable waits, emphasizing the importance of clear communication, managing expectations, and providing engaging activities. The second text addresses broader issues of m...

These texts from Donald Norman's 2011 writings explore the principles of sociable design, emphasizing the importance of human-centered approaches in both product and service design. Norman argues that successful design considers the full user experience, including emotional responses and the handling of unexpected situations. He illustrates this through examples of poor design, such as confusing s...

These excerpts from Donald Norman's 2011 work explore the nature of complexity in design and everyday life. Norman distinguishes between inherent complexity (a fact of the world) and unnecessary complication (poor design). He argues that simplicity is a mental state achieved through understanding, not merely a reduction in features. The texts examine how seemingly simple objects can become confusi...