Designdiscoursen

Designdiscoursen is a term used in design studies to denote the body of discussion surrounding design as a social, cultural, and ethical activity. It combines design with discourse to emphasize that design is not only a technical craft but also a field of ideas, debates, and interpretation. The term is used in design scholarship, particularly in Nordic and European contexts, to frame critical inquiry into how design shapes and is shaped by users, markets, institutions, and politics.

The scope of designdiscoursen includes design ethics, sustainability, accessibility, participatory design, aesthetics, material culture, representation, and the politics of design. It engages with design criticism, theory, history, and curatorial practice, employing methods such as discourse analysis, textual analysis, and interpretive studies of exhibitions and media coverage. The aim is to illuminate how design dialogues influence practice, policy, and education.

Historically, designdiscoursen arose from the expansion of design studies in the late 20th century, as scholars sought to account for design's social relevance beyond form and function. It intersects with critical theory, cultural studies, and science and technology studies, offering a language to discuss power, responsibility, and equity in design processes and outcomes.

In practice, the concept informs curricula, research, and critique, encouraging designers and institutions to reflect on values, biases, and consequences embedded in design choices. Critics caution that the discourse can become abstract unless connected to tangible design outcomes.

See also: design studies, design criticism, design ethics, critical design, design thinking.