On Abduction in Design

The effect of abductive reasoning on concept selection decisions

“…Roozenburg (1993) concluded that innovative abduction is the only appropriate form of abductive reasoning in design, because design entails determining the set of conditions for which the conceptualization of the product would be true. Kroll and Koskela (2014) proposed an extension of these models of abductive reasoning in design. Their model consists of two-steps of reasoning, one from function to an idea, concept, or solution principle and then from that principle to the form or, more generally, 'how' the principle can be realized.…”

“…In classical logical reasoning, abduction proposes the most parsimonious explanation for observations. In design, abductive reasoning is implicated in at least two important situations: in synthesizing complex and contradictory information to generate insight (Kolko, 2010) and in reasoning toward new solutions for design problems, from function to form (Kroll & Koskela, 2014;March, 1976;Roozenburg, 1993;Zeng & Cheng, 1991). The latter form of abduction has been referred to as innovative abduction whereas the former has been labelled explanatory abduction (Roozenburg, 1993).…”

Empirically analysing design reasoning patterns: Abductive-deductive reasoning patterns dominate design idea generation

“…In cases of reasoning Empirically analysing design reasoning patterns leading to innovation or new ideas, such abductions are termed as innoduction (Roozenburg, 1995) or abduction-2 (Dorst, 2011) signifying a type of reasoning that moves from an aspired value or function towards a form, but without knowing either the working principle or form beforehand. A more recent proposal elaborates this process as a two-step abductive process that invents a form (design object), a mode of use and a mode of action to fulfil the desired function (Kroll & Koskela, 2015). One way to exemplify reasoning in design used originally by Roozenburg (1993) and later elaborated by Kroll & Koskela (2015) is the imagined first development of a kettle to boil water using a stove.…”

“…A more recent proposal elaborates this process as a two-step abductive process that invents a form (design object), a mode of use and a mode of action to fulfil the desired function (Kroll & Koskela, 2015). One way to exemplify reasoning in design used originally by Roozenburg (1993) and later elaborated by Kroll & Koskela (2015) is the imagined first development of a kettle to boil water using a stove. The first abduction pertains to the desired outcome of making water boil (function), which necessitates placing water on the burner for heating, concluding one, among many possible, modes of action.…”

The Logic of Design as a Conceptual Logic of Information

“…March (1984) defends a logic of design as a logic of abduction, but in a problem-solving context, see also Goel (1988), who seeks to extend March's approach. Kroll and Koskela (2015) re-proposes the abductive interpretation but refers only to March (1976) not to March (1984). satisfy them, and the choice of which solution may be preferable, or whether the set needs to be revised, is pragmatic, but not determined, and can be as much linked to biological and social frameworks as to cultural, personal, or even accidental circumstances.…”