Understanding Design

This is a book every designer would wish to have had in his design school years.

And it's such a good read that it will appeal to designers in every stage of their career.

Kees Dorst, Dutch design scholar, tutor, consultant and practitioner with experience in the international design arena, wrote 150 one page mini essays especially for designers to stimulate them to think about what they do, how they do it, why and with which effect.

Design thinking for inspiration and insight, absolutely humbug free.

Together, the 150 essays in this book provide a panoramic view onto the subject of design. The essays are written to challenge designers and students of design to reflect upon the many aspects of their field. Fundamental questions are raised about the nature of design, about designers themselves, and about the role of design in the broader contexts of company and society. These possibly abstract themes are made concrete by being directly linked to the experience and everyday practice of designers.

There are no definitive answers in this book: the readers are challenged to construct their own answers by reflecting upon their own experiences as a designer or design student. The essays are clear, inspirational stepping stones on the path towards becoming a truly conscious professional in the field of design.