Design as Inquiry: Issues in the Formation of a Comprehensive
Theory of Design

The goal of this talk is to explore the idea of inquiry and how that idea serves to characterize the new level of research, design practice and education that is emerging in the contemporary world. Inquiry now serves as the common connecting theme in the field of design, and the idea of inquiry positions design with a new prospect on culture.

BIOGRAPHY

Professor Dr. Richard Buchanan is Professor of Design in the School of Design at Carnegie Mellon University. He is also a Director of Doctoral Studies in the School, and served as its Head from 1992 to 2002.

He currently teaches in the areas of Interaction and Design, Communication Planning and Organisation Design and Behaviour, but his interests are wide ranging. He has published over 30 articles including "Wicked Problems in Design Thinking", "Children of the Moving Present: The Ecology of Culture and the Search for Causes in Design", and edited three books, including Discovering Design: Explorations in Design Studies (University of Chicago Press) and The Idea of Design (M.I.T. Press).

Professor Buchanan is Co-Editor of Design Issues (M.I.T. Press) and was in 2001 elected as the President of the Design Research Society.

Among other activities he currently serves on the Design Task Force for Hong Kong, and on design juries such as the Primo INTEL Design Award Jury in Milan, Italy.