کد مقاله | کد نشریه | سال انتشار | مقاله انگلیسی | نسخه تمام متن |
---|---|---|---|---|
261632 | 503845 | 2013 | 27 صفحه PDF | دانلود رایگان |
Concepts of function are central to design but statements about a device's functions can be interpreted in different ways. This raises problems for researchers trying to clarify the foundations of design theory and for those developing design support-tools that can represent and reason about function. By showing how functions relate systems to their sub-systems and super-systems, this article illustrates some limitations of existing function terminology and some problems with existing function statements. To address these issues, a system-relative function terminology is introduced. This is used to demonstrate that systems function not only with respect to their most local super-system, but also with respect to their more global super-systems.
► Functioning objects are conceptualised as operating in multiple layers of sub-systems and super-systems (nested systems).
► Systems are shown to perform functions with respect to multiple super-systems (function propagation).
► An apparent conflict between competing perspectives on function propagation is resolved.
Journal: Design Studies - Volume 34, Issue 2, March 2013, Pages 216–242