On the content of design problems

To see designing as a rational problem solving activity has been the predominant understanding in design methodology literature. However, in a recent paper Dorst proposes seeing designing as a discursive activity, where a design problem is a paradoxical problem situation consisting of conflicting discourses, and where the designer has to create a solution that transcends or connects the discourses. The authors see Dorst’s proposal as a valuable framework to build upon. We see a challenge to combine Dorst’s framework with existing concepts and methods in order to develop a new, operational and teachable description of design problems. The result should be a productive contribution to designers working in industrial practice and to the teaching in this area.