Abstract

This paper explores some of the philosophical problems associated with building a unified and coherent cross-disciplinary body of knowledge and theory associated with designing and designs. The paper identifies issues that a cross-disciplinary unified body of knowledge would be expected to address. It describes general criteria for improving the definitions of concepts and theories, and outlines relationships and boundaries between design research and other disciplines for nine areas of theory. The paper closes by proposing definitions of core concepts in research and theory-making relating to designing and designs, and draws attention to the practical political difficulties in building a more coherent body of knowledge in this area.