Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the author in writing this paper is to establish the connection between design and constructivism. To that end, it is argued that design is a necessarily constructivist activity ; and that design preceded constructivism by many millennia. Method: This argument is made through reference to concepts and developments in second order cybernetics, and an analysis of central activities that designers perform – particularly sketching and doodling, used in the manner of holding a conversation with oneself. Findings: The parallelism between design and constructivism is demonstrated; and a distinction between knowledge of and knowledge for is drawn. Knowledge for is the knowledge that supports action, including the action of constructing. Original value: Design is placed at the heart of constructivist activity, validated by criteria that that are sympathetic to designing. Thus, constructivist activity is reinforced by the analysis of design activity; and design activity is reciprocally reinforced by the analysis of constructivist activity.