Economy as a design virtue
Economy (conceptual, fiscal and aesthetic) is a value that DLB holds dear. But how does it fare as a design virtue?
Here's what I wrote on Monday:
Philosophical virtue ethics typically concern themselves with the inner states of individuals - an action counts as good because the agent who brings it about was motivated by a virtuous motivation. The analog of this is for design is the idea that a(n object of) design would count as good if the designer made her design choices in a virtuous way. I think that there is a perfectly reasonable concern about the applicability of this ethical model to design for the precise reason that designs and actions have very different ontological statuses.
Today, I'm going to articulate that difference, and illustrate it with one of the design virtues nearest and dearest to DLB's heart: economy.
Tagged with: Design Ethics, Economy, Failure, Less, Less is Better, Moral Philosophy, Virtue Ethics.
