Design you cannot touch

Immaterial design is not new as such, but builds on a renewed understanding of design competence and its relevance for processes of change, procedures and other challenges where the chosen method itself is the final product.

The specific design methodological approach to problem solving, currently benefiting from an increasingly massive recognition, is the hallmark of the designer, as the principles of design methodology differ from the theoretical basis of either the arts or the sciences. Design as a solution model bridges and integrates vital elements of these other disciplines and adds new dimensions of perception. Thus design methodology can be applied even when the project is not expected to produce a tangible solution.

Immaterial design is not new as such, but builds on a renewed understanding of design competence and its relevance for processes of change, procedures and other challenges where the chosen method itself is the final product. Immaterial design is likely to develop into a design discipline ranking equally with the more established disciplines, helping to position the competence of designers alongside other consultancy services addressing challenges within areas such as business development, management, process technology and innovation.

Read more in The increasingly vital role of design