What Is Design?

Question 1

What is Design?

Answer 1

Noun; some finished product. A verb; an action or process. The process of envisioning and planning the creation of objects. Choices are made such as composition, balance, colour, form, space, etc.

Question 2

What is the Gregorian Calendar?

Answer 2

Also called the Western Calendar.
2018 is a Gregorian date.
Introduced by Gregory Pope XIII.

Question 3

What is CE?

Answer 3

Common Era

Question 4

What is BCE?

Answer 4

Before Common Era

Question 5

C or c or circa

Answer 5

From the Latin word “circa” meaning around. Such as circling.

Question 6

Why don’t we use BP (before present) or YA (year after)?

Answer 6

The present date changes EVERY YEAR. Next year today’s date would be wrong.

Question 7

Who is Frank Pick?

Answer 7

He was in charge of the London Transport System.

Question 8

Who was Henry Beck?

Answer 8

He created the London Tube Map. The original creator of the London Tube Map.

Question 9

What is Design?

Answer 9

Design is both a verb and a noun. Design is a modern construct.

Question 10

What is a use?

Answer 10

A new or original use for an existing naturally occurring object

Question 11

What is an Invention?

Answer 11

A revolutionary, previously unknown, new idea.

Question 12

What is an Innovation?

Answer 12

A refinement or improvement of a previous invention or idea?

Question 13

What is a Composition?

Answer 13

A deliberate arrangement of a number of previous existing designs.

Question 14

What is the Diffusion of Innovations?

Answer 14

This is a theory that Everett Rogers came up with. He proposed that four main elements influence the spread of an idea:

1. The innovation itself
2. Communication channels
3. Time (for it to sink in)
4. A social system (so it can live on)

Question 15

What is a Hammerstone?

Answer 15

Early hominids used hammerstones to butcher animals and extract bone marrow

Question 16

What is the hammerstone an example of and why?

Answer 16

The hammerstone is an example of a use. It’s a use because it’s a naturally occurring object; it’s an object that was used to do something; you are merely using the object. You didn’t design it.

Question 17

What is the Oldowan “Chopper”?

Answer 17

The Oldowan Chopper is an example of an innovation. You’re improving a previous invention or idea.

Question 18

What is the Magpie Self-Awareness trick?

Answer 18

Psychologists tried to figure out any evidence of self-recognition in these birds. They placed a yellow mark on the subject’s body so that it could only be seen in a mirror. The birds then started scratching at it, thus concluding the experiment with realizing that the birds recognized the image in the mirror as themselves and not another animal. Most animals are not aware of themselves.

Question 19

Is self-awareness critical for design?

Answer 19

Yes, it is.