Technological Allusivity: Appreciating and Teaching the Role of Aesthetics in Engineering Design By Charles C. Adams Presented by Scot McAllister

What is Aesthetics? At the core of aesthetics lies the concept of “allusion” The Statue of Liberty alludes to the structure being Liberty herself!

Reality: “Law” vs “Norm” The “law,” or “lawfulness,” represents an “is” relationship Science The “norm,” or “normativity,” represents an “ought” relationship Engineering Design

Engineering Design VS Science Engineering design is not an applied science – there is more than 1 answer The scientific method is based in abstraction Engineering Design has to focus on every aspect of the problem Aesthetics is one of those aspects

Technological Allusivity Aesthetics has an “allusion of utility” Good aesthetics dissolve into an extension of the user at the human- technical interface This is “Technological Allusivity”

Symbol versus Allusion Defined representation No subtlety Subtly suggests use Enhances aesthetic quality

Aesthetics in Education Three points 1.Include aesthetic oriented lectures, discussions and assignments in curriculum 2.Collaborate with liberal arts teachers to help ensure a strong aesthetic base is laid for engineering students. 3.Faculty needs to pursue interesting general arts and then apply them back to their field, so that interest and knowledge might “rub off” onto pupils

Conclusion There are many aspects of the world needed for engineering design Aesthetics is one of them Products with good engineering design aesthetics should dissolve into an extension of the user. Educators should pursue interests in the arts and relate them back to their own trade.