Design science and design education

Design sciences are technical or social sciences that focus on how to do things to accomplish goals. Design sciences emerge when skills-based professions move from traditional rules of thumb or trial-and-error methods to the use of theory and scientific method. Many forms of design are at this point now, including graphic design, industrial design, information design and design management. This is visible in an emerging transition from an arts-and-craft approach to a theory-based design. In this time of transition, the theoretical and intellectual content of design education takes on particularly great importance. This article will discuss some of the issues involved in the transition and in the kinds of design education that we require to successfully bridge two eras in the design profession.