What is the Nature of the Design Process? There is no definitive formulation of the problem. Problem formulation may contain inconsistencies. Formulations of the problem are solution-dependent. Proposing solutions is a means of understanding the problem. There is no definitive solution to the problem. Cross, p. 12

No definitive formulation of the problem Goals may be vague Constraints and criteria are unknown Context messy and poorly understood

Problem formulation may contain inconsistencies Objectives might conflict with one another Inconsistencies might emerge in the process of problem solving

Formulations of the problem are solution dependent Difficult to formulate a problem without referring to a way to solve it

Proposing solutions to the problem is a way to understand the problem Assumptions and uncertainties can be exposed by proposing solutions

There is no definitive solution to the problem Different solutions can be valid Some solutions are bad Some good solutions are better than others