Design as an Act of Faith: The Role of Collective Belief in Bringing Designs to Existence
The creation of a design, even with extensive research and analysis, ultimately relies on a collective 'act of faith' from all stakeholders involved.
Design Science · 2015
Key Findings
- 01Design creation is an 'act of faith' that transcends purely rational processes.
- 02A design artifact, such as a journal, is a product of collective effort and belief from multiple stakeholders.
- 03Understanding the 'why,' 'what,' and 'how' of design is crucial for its successful realization.
Application
Design takeaway
Recognize and actively cultivate the 'act of faith' required from all stakeholders throughout the design process.
How to apply
When initiating a new design project, explicitly discuss and align the 'faith' or belief in the project's success with all key stakeholders.
Project actions
- 01Consider the 'belief' factor in your design project: who needs to believe in it and why?
- 02Think about how you can build confidence and commitment among your users or clients.
Method & Evidence
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a unique philosophical perspective on design.
- +Encourages a holistic view of design creation.
Limitations
It's hard to measure 'faith' or 'belief' directly in a design project.
Reliability & validity
The paper's validity lies in its philosophical argument; reliability is not applicable in the empirical sense.
Think critically
To what extent can 'faith' be intentionally cultivated in a design project, and what methods can be employed to foster this collective belief?
Design Principles
"Design realization is a socio-technical endeavor, requiring both rigorous methodology and collective belief."
This perspective highlights the human element in design practice, emphasizing that successful design realization depends not just on technical merit but also on shared belief and commitment from authors, users, producers, and sponsors. Understanding this dynamic can inform strategies for stakeholder engagement and project buy-in.
What This Means for Your Design
Even with lots of research, making a new design work relies on people believing it will succeed and working together.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this insight to discuss the importance of stakeholder buy-in and shared vision in your design project's development.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
(2015). Design Science: Why, What and How. Design Science. https://doi.org/10.1017/dsj.2015.1 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/2b88cb63-0fb6-4d98-a928-c4ef8ed7b677/design-as-an-act-of-faith-the-role-of-collective-belief-in-bringing-designs-to-existence
Paragraph starter
The successful realization of design projects, as highlighted by the concept of 'design science,' is not solely a product of rigorous analysis and technical execution. Instead, it is fundamentally an 'act of faith,' requiring a collective belief and commitment from all involved stakeholders, including designers, producers, and end-users. This underscores the importance of fostering shared vision and trust throughout the design process to ensure project viability and adoption.
Source
Questions about this research
- What does the research say about design as an act of faith: the role of collective belief in bringing designs to existence?
- Recognize and actively cultivate the 'act of faith' required from all stakeholders throughout the design process. Evidence: Design Science (2015).
- Why does "Design as an Act of Faith: The Role of Collective Belief in Bringing Designs to Existence" matter for design?
- This perspective highlights the human element in design practice, emphasizing that successful design realization depends not just on technical merit but also on shared belief and commitment from authors, users, producers, and sponsors. Understanding this dynamic can inform strategies for stakeholder engagement and project buy-in.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Recognize and actively cultivate the 'act of faith' required from all stakeholders throughout the design process.
- What were the main findings?
- Design creation is an 'act of faith' that transcends purely rational processes.. A design artifact, such as a journal, is a product of collective effort and belief from multiple stakeholders.. Understanding the 'why,' 'what,' and 'how' of design is crucial for its successful realization.
- What research method was used?
- Conceptual analysis and philosophical discourse..
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When initiating a new design project, explicitly discuss and align the 'faith' or belief in the project's success with all key stakeholders.
- What are the limitations?
- This paper is primarily philosophical and does not present empirical data or testable hypotheses.
- Is there evidence that design affects design outcomes?
- Bringing a design into reality is not solely about data and analysis; it requires a shared belief and commitment from everyone involved, from creators to consumers. This perspective highlights the human element in design practice, emphasizing that successful design realization depends not just on technical merit but al Source: Design Science (2015).
- Where does this act faith research apply?
- Academic publishing and the philosophy of design science. It sits within modelling research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
design design research · evidence on design · does design improve design outcomes · act faith studies for designers · design and act faith findings · modelling research evidence