Design Theorists
Design Theories
Misc.
Specific Designs
100

According to this theorist, commodities are 'spooky' because they are fetishized. 

Who is Karl Marx

100

This theory explores how design can force people to self-discipline.

What is panopticism?

100

Unlike the medical and social models of disability theory, this third approach highlights the possible advantages or gains that those differently abled might have. 

What is the critical model?

100

Shannon Mattern argues that instead of innovation, design should focus on this activity:

What is the maintenance?

200

These thinkers use design as a way to 'ideate' or speculate on what society could be

Who are Dunne and Raby

200

In his thinking about commodity fetishism, Marx distinguishes between a use-theory of value and this.

What is the labor theory of value?

200

This concept refers to the idea of disentangling an object from involvement with fossil fuels and pollutants. 

What is 'de-acceleration'?

200

This recently built structure might exemplify the inherent ableism in society.

What is the Vessel?

300

This Parsons professor explores the phenomenon of fast-fashion

Who is Cristina Moon?

300

This theory explores the many ways in which people can be subject to forms of oppression. 

What is intersectionality / intersectional theory?

300

This is the title of V. Papanek's famous work. 

What is Design for the Real World?

300

Foucault's theory of panopticism is exemplified in three kinds of buildings. Prisons, and these other two.

What are hospitals and schools?

400

This theorist explores power and architecture by studying the architecture of prisons

Who is Michel Foucault?

400

This theory takes a negative view of the development of human artifacts, arguing that they will inevitably lead to the destruction of the planet. 

What is Techno-pessimism?

400

This concept believes that a society's entire social reality is a result of their technological advance. 

What is technological determinism?

400

This structure, while not racist in its functioning, was shown to ultimately contribute to the racist structuring of society, as its designer intended it to. 

What are the low highway overpasses leading to long island, NY.

500

This theorist explores the possible hypocrisy in so-called 'humanitarian design'

Who is Mahmoud Keshavarz?

500

In his "Theses on the philosophy of History," Walter Benjamin describes history with this image and this kind of motion. 

What is the angel of history, moving backwards?

500

Although seemingly a-political, our lecture showed that due to its involvement with complicated forms of urban infrastructure, this basic natural element can be quite political.  

What is water?

500

As we saw in our class reading, this machine contributes to a normative gender binary in society.

What is the TSA body scanner?

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