Designing Designing

"Designing Designing" is a groundbreaking book on design that challenges the traditional product- and progress-oriented focus by insisting that the world now coming into being requires designing to be understood as a response to the whole of life. It is unique in modern design thinking in its exploration of what writing on designing might be, combining essays, interviews, reflections, performances, plays, poems, chance procedures, photographs, collages, and quotes to create a book that is not simply about designing but is itself an instance of the ideas and processes explored within it.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 440 pages
Publication date: 25 February 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Designing, a groundbreaking work on design, has left an indelible mark on the field. Originally published in 1984 and reprinted in 1991 with this revised title and cover, the book emerged as the culmination of ten years of introspection, self-critique, and exploration in the realm of writing on design. In this profound exploration, Jones offers a scathing self-critique of his own work on "methods," as well as a critical examination of the broader methods and objectives of advanced industrial societies. He challenges the traditional focus on design as merely a means to produce products and advance progress, arguing that the world emerging requires a deeper understanding of design as a response to the entirety of life.

What sets Designing apart in contemporary design thinking is its innovative exploration of the potential of writing on design. Jones employs a diverse range of literary forms, including essays, interviews, reflections, performances, plays, poems, chance procedures, photographs, collages, and quotes, to create a book that transcends mere description and becomes an embodiment of the ideas and processes it explores. Through his experimental approach, Jones seeks to create a work that is not just about designing but is itself an instance of the very concepts and processes it investigates.

In conclusion, Designing is a masterpiece of design literature that demands attention and contemplation. Through its relentless self-reflection, critical analysis, and innovative exploration, it challenges the boundaries of design thinking and offers a new perspective on the role of design in shaping our world. This extraordinary book will continue to inspire and influence designers and thinkers for generations to come.

Weight: 696g
Dimension: 215 x 157 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350070677