The Future of Design Methodology

The Future of Design Methodology gives a holistic overview of perspectives for design methodology, addresses trends for developing a powerful methodical support for design practice and provides a starting point for future design research. The chapters are written by leading scientists from around the world, who have great expertise in design methodology, as well as the farsightedness needed to develop design methodology further.

The Future of Design Methodology is a detailed contribution to consolidated design methodology and design research. Instead of articulating the views of one scientist, it provides a comprehensive collection of perspectives and visions. The editor highlights the substantial deficiencies and problems of the current design methodology and summarizes the authors’ findings to draw future-oriented conclusions. 

The comprehensive overview of the status of design methodology given in The Future of Design Methodology will help enhance the individual scientific development of junior researchers, while the authoritative perspectives on future design methodology will challenge the views of experts. It is suitable for readers working in a wide range of design fields, such as design methodology, engineering design and industrial design.

Herbert Birkhofer was awarded a PhD from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Technische Universität Braunschweig. He is currently Professor and Head of the Product Development and Machine Elements Institute at Technische Universität Darmstadt. He is a member of the Scientific Association for Machine Elements and Design Research and of Berliner Kreis (association for the advancement of product innovation in German industry). He co-edits the journal Zeitschrift Konstruktion and is Programme Chair of two events: the annual Applied Engineering Design Systems workshops in Czechoslovakia, and the biennial DESIGN conferences in Croatia. His main research interests are product development and design methodology, knowledge management in design, empirical design research, development of environmentally sound products, and lifetime theory of solid-lubricated bearings.