Urban Design Made by Humans: A Handbook of Design Ideas

The book "Designing with Meaning" is a valuable resource for design students and professionals, providing clarity, currency, persistence, and integration of complex ideas into design processes. It addresses the cultural shift in education towards understanding cognitive processes connected to shape-making and offers foundational knowledge that sits at the base of all educational instruction in formal design. The book emphasizes the same skills that humans use to understand the environment and integrates meaning and interpretation into the design process.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 29 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Clarity:
The book effortlessly breaks down complex architectural design concepts and urban design principles, making them accessible to first-year university students embarking on their design journey. These fundamental ideas, often overlooked or neglected in traditional design education, form the very essence of all design processes. What sets this book apart is its ability to unveil these core concepts, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the field.

Currency:
The book aligns with a significant cultural shift in education, emphasizing the understanding of cognitive processes related to shape-making rather than solely focusing on the formal creation of objects. This shift addresses the root causes of design problems rather than merely treating their symptoms. By embracing this pedagogical approach, students gain a deeper insight into the creative process and develop a more holistic perspective on design.

Persistence:
Unlike many textbooks that become outdated quickly, the information presented in this book remains timeless and foundational. It serves as a steadfast pillar of education, providing students with a solid foundation that will endure throughout their entire design education and professional career. The book's content is not subject to fleeting trends or passing fads, but rather remains a constant source of knowledge and guidance.

Integration:
The book seamlessly blends the realms of meaning and interpretation, recognizing that the same skills used by humans to comprehend their environment are equally essential in designing the environment. It introduces persistent ways in which humans interpret and interact with their surroundings, shedding light on the intricate relationship between human perception and design. By integrating these two aspects, the book equips students with a comprehensive set of skills that enable them to create meaningful and impactful designs.

In conclusion, this book is a remarkable resource for first-year university architectural design students and first-year graduate urban design students. It offers unparalleled clarity, currency, persistence, and integration, providing students with the essential knowledge and skills needed to excel in their design endeavors. By embracing the principles outlined in this book, students will be well-prepared to tackle complex design challenges, think critically, and create designs that have a positive impact on the world around them.

Weight: 290g
Dimension: 125 x 196 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032185194