The Design of Design: Essays from a Computer Scientist

1. The Design Question

Spiral staircaseCorbis

[New ideas would come about] by a connexion and transferring of the observations of one Arte, to the uses of another, when the experience of several misteries shall fall under consideration of one mans minde.

SIR FRANCIS BACON [1605], THE TWOBOOKS OF THE PROFICIENCE ANDADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING, BOOK 2, 10

Few engineers and composers ... can carry on a mutually rewarding conversation about the content of the other’s professional work. What I am suggesting is that they can carry on such a conversation about design, . . . [and then] begin to share their experiences of the creative professional design ...