What Philosophical Thinking Underlies Design?

Center for Design Fundamentals Research,
Department of Design Futures, Faculty of Design
Toru Koga, Professor

My research focuses on philosophy: the discipline that clarifies the assumptions, frameworks, and ways of thinking underlying science and technology. Design, too, is a subject of philosophical inquiry. It is more than a designer’s idea skillfully translated into a plan. Design has been shaped by philosophical, ethical, and aesthetic traditions passed down through many periods, from ancient Greece and the Renaissance to the Baroque era, industrialization, and the post-industrial age. As a result, design takes different forms in different times and places.

My research first examines design in the context of the ideas and values of each era, helping us see that our own ways of thinking about design are not universal. From there, I explore and propose ways of understanding design today—its epistemology, ontology, ethics, and aesthetics.

I also pursue philosophical research beyond design, examining everyday issues and historical cases, including the Kyushu University human vivisection incident and questions surrounding love and money.

■References
Figure 1. Correlational Diagram. From the Center for Design Fundamentals Research website.
Figure 2. Historical Diagram. From the Center for Design Fundamentals Research website.

■Contact
Center for Design Fundamentals Research,
Department of Design Futures, Faculty of Design
Toru Koga, Professor