Design in Mind

The intuitive distinction between design and research tends to be challenged based on the complex nature of design. By introducing concepts from the philosophy of mind, the paper tries to clarify this distinction at a conceptual and psychological level. Instead of considering design as a mix of knowledge creation and application, the process is decomposed in distinct yet interacting mental acts, in which designers establish relationships with (objects in) the world. Detailed analysis of this relationship forms the basis for a nuanced, yet fundamental comparison with the relationship researchers establish with the world, and may help address the question about design’s contribution to the creation of new knowledge.status: publishe