Theory and design in the first digital age

Digital design and its growing impact on design and production practices have resulted in the need for a re-examination of current design theories and methodologies in order to explain and guide future research and development. The present research postulates the requirements for a conceptual framework and theoretical basis of digital design; reviews the recent theoretical and historical background; and defines a generic schema of design characteristics through which the paradigmatic classes of digital design are formulated. The implication of this research for the formulation of ‘digital design thinking’ is presented and discussed.