Wicked problems revisited

I revisit Rittel and Weber's essay on the 'wicked problem,' and relate it to more recent theories about rationality and professionalism. Perhaps the most provocative challenge comes from Deleuze and Guattari's difficult commentary on 'the rhizome,' which has currency within much design studio culture. I posit the controversial conclusion that 'wickedness' is not aberrant. It is formulations of professionalism which pay homage to the idea of formal rules, goal setting, and calculation as representing the norm of rationality, that present as deviations.