“In the rigor-relevance debate on how scientific methods can contribute to design of real systems, the actual designing action is more often too complex to even grab in a systematic way. We Are Not Users is a game changer. With the creative and thoughtful way that the authors weave models, design, arts, and engineering, this book is the start of a richer discussion of designing as a verb instead of a rational process. Keeping in mind the increasing interdependencies between systems, society, and the city fabric, this book is much needed to help us address grand societal challenges.”
Sebastiaan Meijer, Vice-Dean and Professor at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm
“'Stronger, faster, smoother, better, safer, simpler'—this book explores the joys and trials of designing and indeed tackles the design of designing. Whether we are dealing with a product, service, or some other form of enterprise or societal structure, this book provides both context to, and also the interrelationships involved in, designing. This important book provides a perspective on 20th-century design movements, but importantly helps frame designing as an unfolding story for the 21st-century.”
Peter Childs, Professor and Founding Head of the Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London
“This book addresses critical issues in engineering design and innovation management. The authors, world experts in the recent advances in design theory, are able to introduce complex and critical notions in a very smooth and pedagogic way. This book provides a reliable state of the art on design theory, a demonstration of the extension of design logic in many fields, and it opens new paths for the design of new social contexts and institutions. It is a true pleasure to read such a book where the authors put themselves in the scene and transform the book into a space of action where authors are dialoging and involving the reader in their intellectual creations. This is ambitious—and it works!”
Pascal Le Masson, Professor and Director of the Centre de Gestion Scientifique, MINES ParisTech; coauthor of Design Theory: Methods and Organization for Innovation
“It appears simple on its face but is filled with deep insight about design. The content of this book is full of wisdom, experience, and a new logical process to deal with design. The book may be used to cross the domain threshold for young designers and to improve high-level thinking for experienced designers. The publication of this book will provide a new systematic logic for the design domain.”
Tan Runhua, Professor and Former Vice President of Hebei University of Technology, China; Director of National Engineering Research Center for Technological Innovation Method and Tool, China
